MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that connects AI assistants to external systems in a structured way. Instead of building a custom integration for every connection, MCP defines how tools, data sources, and actions are exposed to AI models.

In an enterprise context, this is not about chatbots for their own sake. MCP allows AI-assisted tools to access ERP data, metadata, and configuration: modeling processes, adapting screens, checking interfaces, or supporting repetitive development tasks. The prerequisite is a platform that exposes extensions and context cleanly.

Classic ERP monoliths are often a poor fit: closed APIs, proprietary development environments, little transparency into metadata. AI-native platforms address this differently. A metadata model, open extensibility, and standardized tool connections are part of the architecture from the start.

For executives and IT leaders, MCP is above all an integration and future-readiness question: how well can new AI tools connect to existing systems without starting a major project every time? Anyone evaluating process-oriented ERP today should check whether AI support in development and operations is designed into the architecture, not bolted on afterward.

MCP does not replace process clarification or governance. It reduces friction when AI-assisted tools need to work productively with enterprise software.