---
title: "MCP servers"
description: "Connect external MCP tool servers to an AI Agent under CRM > Workforce > AI Agents, then set authentication, priority order, and monitor server status."
doc_type: how-to
audience: merchant
sidebar_position: 6
# Provenance — do not edit by hand; used by re-run diffing and redirects.
confluence_page_id: "4160716806"
confluence_url: "https://ultracart.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ucdoc/pages/4160716806"
last_updated_in_confluence: "2026-05-05T19:51:59.425Z"
---
MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers let you extend your AI Agent's capabilities by connecting external tool servers. When an MCP server is configured, your agent can discover and use the tools that server provides during customer conversations.

## Overview

By default, AI Agents have access to UltraCart's built-in tools (order lookups, subscription management, etc.) through [capabilities](./ai-agent-capabilities.md). MCP servers let you go beyond those built-in tools by connecting third-party or custom tool servers that expose additional functionality.

For example, you might connect an MCP server that lets your agent look up inventory from a warehouse system, check shipping rates from a logistics provider, or query a custom internal database.

Each AI Agent has its own list of MCP servers. You can configure multiple servers per agent, set their priority order, and monitor their availability status.

## Prerequisites

-   At least one AI Agent configured on your account
-   An MCP-compatible server endpoint accessible via HTTPS
-   Authentication credentials for the server, if required

## Adding an MCP server

1.  Navigate to **CRM > Workforce > AI Agents** and select the agent you want to configure.
2.  Scroll to the **MCP Servers** section.
3.  Select **Add MCP Server**.
4.  Enter the server's endpoint URL (e.g., `https://mcp.example.com`).
5.  Select the authentication method and provide credentials if needed.
6.  Select **Save**.

After saving, UltraCart queries the server to discover available tools and displays the connection status.

## Authentication methods

MCP servers support three authentication options:

| Method | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **None** | No authentication. Use for servers that don't require credentials. |
| **Basic** | HTTP Basic authentication with a username and password. |
| **Header** | Custom header-based authentication. You specify a header name and value (e.g., `Authorization: Bearer <token>`). |

Choose the method that matches your MCP server's requirements.

## Server priority

When you configure multiple MCP servers for an agent, each server has a priority number. Priority determines the order in which the agent discovers and considers tools from each server.

You can reorder servers using the up and down arrow controls in the MCP server list. Lower priority numbers are checked first.

## Checking server status

Each configured MCP server displays a status indicator:

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| **Available** | The server is reachable and responding |
| **Unavailable** | The server could not be reached or returned an error |
| **Loading** | UltraCart is currently checking the server's status |

UltraCart checks server status when you load the agent configuration page. If a server shows as unavailable, verify the endpoint URL and authentication credentials.

## Viewing available tools

After a server is connected and shows as available, you can preview the tools it exposes. This helps you verify that the server is configured correctly and understand what additional actions your agent gains access to.

The tools list shows each tool's name as reported by the MCP server.

## Removing an MCP server

To disconnect an MCP server, select the delete option next to the server in the MCP servers list. This immediately removes the server and its tools from the agent's available actions.

## Related pages

-   [AI Agents overview](./index.md)
-   [AI Agent capabilities](./ai-agent-capabilities.md)
-   [Personality and instructions](./personality-and-instruction-examples/index.md)