Business software glossary
MCP
Model Context Protocol
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets an AI assistant, such as Claude or ChatGPT, use other software through named tools. With it, an assistant can read your business data and, where you allow, prepare entries, instead of you copying figures into a chat.
Why it matters to your business
An AI assistant is good at reading, summarising and drafting, but on its own it knows nothing about your customers, stock or accounts. Until now you had to export a report and paste it in. MCP removes that step. The assistant asks your business software directly, with your permission, and answers from today’s figures.
How it works
- Your business software offers a list of tools, such as “who owes me”, “stock of an item” or “draft an invoice”. This list is its MCP server.
- You connect your assistant to it, with a token or by signing in.
- When you ask a question, the assistant picks the tools it needs, calls them and reads the results.
- The software checks every call against what you allowed before it answers.
For example, you ask “Which customers are more than 60 days overdue?”. The assistant calls the receivables tool, reads the ageing by customer and lists them with the amounts.
Common mistakes
- Giving more access than the job needs. Start read only. Raise the level when you have seen how the assistant behaves.
- Sharing the token. A token is like a password. Make one connection for each person or assistant, so the record shows who did what.
- Not checking drafts. An assistant can misread a request. Let it prepare, then check before you issue or send.
- Leaving old connections on. Give a connection an end date, and remove the ones you no longer use.
Questions about MCP
What does MCP mean for a business owner?
You can ask your AI assistant a question in plain words, such as who owes you the most or what to reorder, and it answers from your own business software. You no longer export a report and paste it into a chat.
Which AI assistants support MCP?
Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor support MCP, and more assistants are adding it. Any of them can be connected to software that offers an MCP server.
Is MCP safe for my accounts and customer data?
It depends on the software you connect. Check that a connection is limited to one organisation, that it cannot do more than the person who made it, that you can keep it read only, and that every action is recorded. EaseDesk does each of these.
Does MCP let an AI assistant change my books?
Only if the software and you allow it. In EaseDesk a connection starts read only. Making drafts, posting entries and sending emails are separate levels that you choose.
Updated .