Tools by themselves are not enough to improve processes. They need to be embedded into a system to be effective.
In personal knowledge management and Productivity, tools need to be part of intelligently designed routines and workflows in order to make a difference.
This is why, when we design routines (my daily routine, my weekly routine, My monthly routine) or when we use a note-writing system, we need to start with the principles first before the tools. Tools need to help us execute our systems. An efficient system is a holistic system.
References
Ahrens, S. (2017). How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking – for Students, Academics and Nonfiction Book Writers. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.