Gradient launched MCP Server V1 this week, and the short version is this: your AI assistant can now read and write directly to your Gradient data. Connect Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Microsoft Copilot to your Gradient instance, and you can query billing items, pull reconciliation data, and edit notes in plain English. No exports. No pivot tables. Just ask.
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It's an open standard that lets AI models like Claude connect to external tools and data sources in a structured, secure way. Think of it as a bridge: instead of copying data into a chat window, the AI connects directly to the source and queries it on your behalf.
Gradient's MCP Server is that bridge between your AI assistant and your Gradient instance. When you ask "What's changed in this client's Microsoft billing since last month?" the AI pulls the answer from your live data. Not a static export. Not a report you ran last Tuesday.
With MCP Server V1 connected, you can:
The use case that clicks for most MSPs is reconciliation. Gradient already automates the comparison work. MCP makes the follow-up conversational: ask what's flagged, understand why, take action.
The bottleneck in managed billing isn't the math. It's the context-switching. You spot a discrepancy, open the portal, filter by client, export a line item, paste it somewhere, then write a note. MCP collapses that into a single conversation thread.
For teams running Gradient's Managed Billing Reconciliation service, this is a compounding efficiency. MBR handles the automated comparison across vendors. MCP Server means your AI can surface the exceptions and let you resolve them without leaving the conversation.
MCP Server V1 is available now. To connect:
Full setup documentation is in the Gradient Help Center. If you need help configuring MCP for your workflow, book a consultation with the Gradient team.
Does this work with any AI assistant?
Currently supported clients are Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and Microsoft Copilot. More integrations are planned as the MCP standard continues to expand across AI tooling.
Is my billing data secure when using MCP?
Yes. MCP connections authenticate against your existing Gradient credentials. No data is stored by the AI client.
Do I need to be on Managed Billing Reconciliation to use MCP Server?
No. Any Gradient user can connect MCP Server V1. That said, it's most powerful when paired with MBR, since that's where the reconciliation data lives.
What can I edit through MCP?
V1 supports editing notes on billing records. Write capabilities will expand in future releases.