Tutorials

Business management with ChatGPT: connect Flowtly over MCP

Ask ChatGPT about cash, invoices and projects, then have it log time or close a deal. Connect ChatGPT to your Flowtly organization over MCP in six steps.

MCPBeginner8 minutes

Before you start

Connect ChatGPT to Flowtly and it becomes a chat interface for managing your business: finance, invoices, projects, time tracking, contracts and your sales pipeline. Flowtly runs a remote MCP (Model Context Protocol) server at https://mcp.flowtly.eu/mcp; once ChatGPT is connected, it answers plain-language questions from your live Flowtly data and can carry out a curated set of named actions, such as logging work time, updating a contract or closing a deal.

Custom MCP connectors in ChatGPT need developer mode, which is available on paid plans. In Business and Enterprise workspaces an admin may have to allow custom connectors first. The connection signs in as you, so ChatGPT never goes beyond what your own Flowtly permissions allow.

Step-by-step

Complete the flow

  1. 1

    Turn on developer mode

    In ChatGPT, open Settings → “Apps & Connectors” → “Advanced settings” and switch on “Developer mode”.

    Tips

    • OpenAI has moved this switch before. If it is not there, look in the security settings.
    • Switch greyed out in a Business or Enterprise workspace? Ask your ChatGPT admin to allow custom connectors.
  2. 2

    Create the connector

    Back in “Apps & Connectors”, click “Create”. Name it Flowtly, add a short description such as “Live data and actions from my Flowtly organization”, and paste https://mcp.flowtly.eu/mcp as the MCP server URL.

    Tips

    • ChatGPT reads the description when deciding whether to use the connector, so keep it specific.
  3. 3

    Choose OAuth authentication

    Set authentication to “OAuth” and leave the client ID and secret empty: ChatGPT registers itself with Flowtly automatically. Tick “I trust this application” and click “Create”.

    Tips

    • Flowtly MCP does not accept a static API key. OAuth is the way to connect.
  4. 4

    Sign in to Flowtly

    ChatGPT opens the Flowtly sign-in page. Log in with your Flowtly account, choose the organization ChatGPT should work in and approve the access request. You are then sent back to ChatGPT.

    Tips

    • A connection is bound to exactly one organization. If you work in several, add a separate connector for each.
  5. 5

    Use Flowtly in a chat

    Open a new chat, click “+” in the message box, choose “Developer mode” and switch on the Flowtly connector. Then ask: “Which Flowtly organization am I connected to?” and check the name before you change anything.

    Tips

    • ChatGPT asks you to confirm before it runs an action that changes data. Read the proposed action before you approve it.
  6. 6

    Ask your first question, then act

    Start with a read-only question, such as “What did we spend with our top supplier last quarter?” or “Which invoices are overdue?” When you are ready, ask for an action, for example “Mark the Acme deal as won.”

    Tips

    • Approving a supplier invoice is not available over MCP. Use Flowtly Assistant inside Flowtly for approval decisions.

Resources

You’re finished!

ChatGPT is now connected to your Flowtly organization. You can remove the connector at any time under Settings → “Apps & Connectors”.