MCP Integration Overview
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI models to external data sources and tools. Covia provides deep integration with MCP, enabling two powerful use cases:
- Venues as MCP Servers - Every Covia venue can act as an MCP server, exposing its operations as tools that AI assistants can use
- MCP Tools via the Grid - Call any MCP server's tools as Grid operations, enabling orchestration, auditing, and federated access
Why MCP + Covia?
For AI Application Developers
- Instant Tool Access: Connect your AI assistant to any Covia venue and immediately access all its operations as tools
- Standardised Interface: Use the same MCP protocol regardless of which venue provides the functionality
- Discovery: Browse available tools through MCP's standard discovery mechanisms
For Operation Providers
- Zero Configuration: Operations you create are automatically available as MCP tools
- Consistent Experience: Your operations work with any MCP-compatible AI assistant
- Secure Access: Leverage Covia's authentication and authorization for tool access
For Enterprise
- Audit Trail: All tool invocations go through the Grid, providing a complete audit log
- Governance: Apply consistent policies across all AI tool usage
- Orchestration: Combine MCP tools with other Grid operations in workflows
Quick Start
Connect AI Assistant to a Venue
Add this to your MCP client configuration (e.g., Claude Desktop):
{
"mcpServers": {
"covia-venue": {
"url": "https://venue-test.covia.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
Your AI assistant can now use all operations on that venue as tools.
Call MCP Tools via the Grid
Use the Grid to invoke any MCP server's tools:
{
"operation": "mcp:toolCall",
"input": {
"server": "https://some-mcp-server.example.com",
"toolName": "search",
"arguments": {
"query": "hello world"
}
}
}
Documentation
- Venues as MCP Servers - How to expose your venue's operations via MCP
- Calling MCP Tools - How to invoke external MCP tools through the Grid
- Agentic Economics - AI agents as economic participants using Convex