The MCP Server connector lets you connect Applaud to an external Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and use selected capabilities from that server in Applaud.
MCP is a standard way for AI applications to discover and use capabilities from other systems. An MCP server makes these capabilities available as tools, which Applaud can discover and configure for use with AI experiences.
What you can do
With the MCP Server connector, you can:
- Connect Applaud to an external MCP server.
- Discover the tools provided by that server.
- Select the tools you want to use in Applaud.
- Configure those tools in Agent Tools.
- Test and activate the tools.
- Attach tools to AI agents, case experiences, and workflows.
The basic process is:
Connect → Discover → Configure → Test → Activate → Attach
Connecting to an MCP server gives Applaud access to the capabilities that server provides. You choose which capabilities to configure and where to use them.
When to use the MCP Server connector
Use the MCP Server connector when:
- A vendor provides an MCP server with capabilities you want to use.
- Your organization has built its own MCP server.
- A service doesn't have a dedicated Applaud connector.
- You want to use capabilities that are already available through MCP.
If Applaud provides a dedicated connector for the service, such as Workday or SAP SuccessFactors, use that connector unless you specifically need the capabilities provided through MCP.
How the connector works
The MCP Server connector creates a connection between Applaud and an external MCP server.
The external server provides a set of MCP tools. You can discover those tools through the connection and select the ones you want to configure in Agent Tools.
The flow looks like this:
External MCP server → MCP tools → Agent Tools → AI experiences
Each discovered tool represents a capability provided by the external server. You can refine the tool in Agent Tools so it has the name, description, inputs, risk level, and response that make sense for the Applaud experience where you'll use it.
MCP tools in Agent Tools
When you discover a tool from an external MCP server, Applaud creates a starting configuration for it in Agent Tools.
You can then configure the tool to make it useful and understandable to an Applaud AI experience.
For example, you can:
- Give the tool a clear, outcome-focused title.
- Describe what the tool does and when an agent should use it.
- Set an appropriate risk level.
- Map the information the tool needs.
- Add conditions when additional information is required.
- Shape the response so the AI experience receives the information it needs.
You don't need to configure every capability provided by an MCP server. Start with the tools that support the outcomes your employees and AI experiences need.
Security and access
An MCP connection uses the authentication required by the external server. The credentials and permissions associated with the connection determine which capabilities Applaud can access.
Use dedicated integration credentials where possible and give them only the permissions required by the tools you plan to use.