MCP in One Paragraph
Model Context Protocol is an open standard for LLMs to discover and call tools. Instead of bespoke integrations per agent, MCP servers expose capabilities; any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Agentforce Vibes, Copilot Studio agents) can use them. Think USB for AI tools.
CRM Vendor Support
Salesforce has hosted MCP servers (Pilot) + 3 developer MCP servers. MuleSoft Anypoint converts APIs to MCP servers. HubSpot, Zoho, and ServiceNow are each on different timelines. Check per-vendor status before committing architecture.
Where It Fits
Replacing spokes and custom connectors when you need AI agents to call your systems. Not replacing production integrations (Integration Platforms still win on reliability, monitoring, transformation). MCP is for agent-tool plumbing.
Governance
MCP’s access surface is powerful — and dangerous. An agent connected to an MCP server can do what the server exposes. Central registries, rate limits, policy enforcement are not optional; they’re how you avoid data exfil.