Introducing MCP Server for Business Central (Part 1)
Business Central MCP server, in public preview since version 27.1, exposes Business Central to AI agents through the Model Context Protocol. The video shows setup with Copilot Studio, the feature management switch, and the default read-only configuration with three capabilities.
- Introduction and MCP Protocol Overview
- MCP Architecture: Hosts, Clients, and Servers
- Why MCP Server and AI-Driven Automation
- Demo: Setting Up MCP Server with Copilot Studio
- Testing Queries and Enabling MCP in Business Central
- Default Configuration and Read-Only Access
- Write Scenarios and MCP Configurations
- Multi-Product Scenarios and Call to Action
- Resources and Next Steps
Overview
The video introduces the Model Context Protocol, an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs, and explains the host, client and server architecture. It states the goal of making all Business Central functionality available to AI and agents, including both well-defined repetitive tasks and fuzzy tasks.
A demo connects Copilot Studio, the first-iteration target client, to Business Central through a model context protocol connector. The presenter enables the MCP server on the feature management page and tests queries. Write scenarios through MCP configurations and further setup are left to following videos.
Key points
- The Business Central MCP server was announced in public preview in October, in version 27.1.
- Copilot Studio is the primary client in the first iteration. Agents connect through a model context protocol connector.
- In preview, the MCP server must be enabled on the feature management page by switching it on for all users. The presenter says this will likely change at general availability.
- With no configuration specified, you get a default configuration with read-only access to all API pages.
- The default configuration has three capabilities: look for actions, describe an action, and invoke an action.
- Write scenarios need explicit MCP configurations, which are covered in the following videos.
- The presenter says setup takes about one minute.
Features
| Feature | Status | At | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCP Server for Business Central | preview, demoed | 0:06 | “In October we announced the public preview for Business Central MCP server here in version 27.1.” (3:37) |
| Copilot Studio Integration | status not stated, demoed | 4:09 | |
| Default Configuration with Read-Only Access | status not stated, demoed | 5:21 | |
| MCP Configurations for Write Scenarios | status not stated | 7:50 | |
| AI-Driven Automation with LLM Orchestration | status not stated | 2:17 | |
| Multi-Product Agent Scenarios | status not stated | 8:41 | |
| Feature Management Switch for MCP Server | preview, demoed | 6:38 | “Right now this is a preview feature. So we always have this feature management switch.” (6:49) |
AL objects mentioned
As heard in the captions. A name that matches one object page by exact type and name links to it; the others stay as named.
- page “feature management page” at 6:38
Not found in BC28-30: page “feature management page”.
Quotes
- 0:30 “It’s a new protocol, model context protocol, which is an open protocol to standardize how applications can provide context to LLMs and and talk”
- 1:58 “The goal of this initiative is basically to take everything you can do in Business Central and make it available for our new primary”
- 3:37 “In October we announced the public preview for Business Central MCP server here in version 27.1.”
- 4:23 “we are targeting Copilot Studio as our prime client uh in this first iteration of the MCP server.”
- 5:32 “You do have a default configuration if you don’t specify anything there which is that you have read only access to all API pages”
- 7:23 “Behind the scenes if you don’t pick anything you will get a default configuration which effectively just has three things it can do. It”
- 8:13 “Our vision for MCP server is basically here on on line two. Make all functionality available to AI and agents. And of course, we”
- 9:36 “It literally only takes about 1 minute to set this up and then you can get started trying this out.”
Disclaimers in the video
- 3:37 preview: In October we announced the public preview for Business Central MCP server here in version 27.1.
- 6:49 preview: Right now this is a preview feature. So we always have this feature management switch.
- 6:49 subject-to-change: This is likely going to change once we go into general availability.
- 8:01 coming-later: This is a teaser for the next video where you will learn everything you need uh to know to set up that.
Presenters (as heard): Kenny Pontopidan, Yens.