Genies as MCP clients

Model context protocol (MCP) servers are consumable through skill recipes in your Agent Studio genie. Skill recipes can call custom MCP servers and common provider MCP servers. This enables you to perform the following actions:

• Access external APIs
• Integrate with third-party tools without requiring custom skill development
• Call Workato-hosted MCP servers and external MCP servers from a genie

Genie MCP clients provide the following authentication options:

• Token authentication: The MCP server uses header-based authentication with API token or query parameters.

  • No reference connection is required.
  • Single authentication context for all users.
  • All requests use same token.
  • Doesn't support verified user access.

• OAuth2 authentication: The MCP server uses OAuth2 authentication.

  • Requires URL authentication. For example: /your-application.com/mcp
  • Uses a reference connection to discover available tools.
  • Supports optional verified user access for user-specific authentication.

Add MCP server tools to an Agent Studio genie

The tools in your MCP server can be used as Agent Studio skills. Refer to Create skills for more information.

Complete the following steps to add MCP server tools to your genie:

1

Sign in to Workato.

2

Go to AI Hub > Genies.

3

Go to the Skills section and click + Add.

4

Select MCP server.

5

Select a common provider MCP server or click + Add custom MCP server.

Select an MCP server option

6

Configure your MCP server:

Add skills from a custom MCP server

1

Click + Add custom MCP server > Next.

2

Provide a name for your MCP server connection in the Connection name field.

Set up your MCP server connection

3

Use the Location drop-down menu to select a location for your MCP server connection.

4

Provide your MCP server URL in the MCP Server URL field.

5

Use the Authentication Type drop-down menu to select your authentication method provide the necessary credentials. OAuth2 authentication is required if you plan to use Workato Identity for your MCP server authentication.

6

Click Connect.

7

Select the checkbox for each tool you plan to add as a skill to your genie.

Select MCP server tools

8

Click Done. The MCP server tools you selected display in the Skills section on your genie Overview page.

Add skills from a common provider MCP server

1

Select the common provider MCP server you plan to use.

2

Click Next.

3

Provide a name for your MCP server connection in the Connection name field.

4

Use the Location drop-down menu to select a location for your MCP server connection.

5

Complete the remaining connection fields. These fields vary by provider and authentication method.

Atlassian provider MCP server

6

Click Connect.

7

Select the checkbox for each the tool you plan to add as a skill to your genie.

Select MCP server tools

8

Click Done. The MCP server tools you selected display in the Skills section on your genie Overview page.