What is an MCP?
What is MCP in simple terms?
An MCP lets AI assistants (like ChatGPT, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot) access and work with data directly. Think of it as giving AI tools a "window" into your Dashpivot workspace so the AI can help with tasks like searching forms, understanding project structures, or answering questions about your data.
Is an MCP an AI powered product?
An MCP is a standard interface that allows AI assistants to interact with your data, but it is not an AI powered product. The Sitemate MCP does not itself engage in any LLM or AI processing, it is simply a ‘connector’. This matters because:
Dashpivot does not send data to any LLM through the MCP without you actively requesting it
You choose and control which AI platform you connect to the MCP
Why does this matter?
Instead of having to look through large workspaces, manually exporting data or copy-pasting information into AI tools, you can simply ask questions in natural language and get answers based on your actual Dashpivot data. This saves time and reduces errors from manual data handling.
Example: A project manager could ask an AI assistant "Show me all safety inspection forms from Site Alpha this month" and get immediate results without navigating through Dashpivot manually.
How is this different from just using an AI Assistant normally?
ChatGPT, for example, has no knowledge of a customer's Dashpivot data. With the Sitemate MCP:
The AI Assistant can see your actual workspaces, projects, teams, and forms
Responses are based on real, current data
The AI Assistant understands Dashpivot's structure and terminology
How is this different from Flowsite
Flowsite helps customers automate often repeated processes involving Dashpivot and other platforms, for example:
Turning Dashpivot timesheets into Xero timesheets when they are completed
Saving Dashpivot forms in sharepoint when they are completed
Exporting data to Excel/PowerBI/PowerPlatform for further analysis
On the other hand, the MCP provides a way for customers to:
Make ad hoc requests for their data
Analyse their data using an LLM (which is becoming increasingly popular)
Identify and link data across many Dashpivot Templates and Forms
Flowsite and MCP each have a place in your Sitemate account.
Who Can Use It?
Which customers have access to MCP?
MCP is available to any user whose workspace has the MCP Access toggle enabled. This toggle can be found in Settings > Security and can only be enabled by Org Controllers or Project Controllers.
Is MCP automatically enabled for all customers?
MCP is available to any user whose workspace has the MCP Access toggle enabled. This toggle can be found in Settings > Security and can only be enabled by Org Controllers or Project Controllers.
Will it be available to more users in the future?
MCP is now generally available to all Dashpivot customers. Enable it via the MCP Access toggle in Settings > Security.
How does a customer request access?
An Org Controller or Project Controller can enable MCP access by turning on the MCP Access toggle in Settings > Security. No request to Sitemate is required.
Important: Once enabled, all users in that workspace can connect to MCP. The data each user can access is tied to their existing Dashpivot permissions.
How can the Sitemate MCP be used?
What AI tools does Sitemate MCP work with?
The Sitemate MCP is designed to work with any AI platform that supports the Model Context Protocol standard, however we currently support connecting to:
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
Claude (Anthropic)
Which ChatGPT & Claude plans is the Sitemate MCP available on?
The Sitemate MCP can be connected on any plans that allow custom MCP connectors.
Does connecting to ChatGPT automatically sync or transfer all Dashpivot data?
No. Think of it like a search engine, it only retrieves data when the user types a query. Nothing moves in the background. Every data request is on-demand and limited to what's relevant to that specific prompt.
What can customers actually do with MCP today?
Currently, AI assistants can:
Capability | What it means |
Browse workspace structure | See the hierarchy of workspaces, projects, and teams |
Search for apps (templates) | Find form templates by name or tags |
Retrieve form data | Access submitted form records with filtering options |
Can AI edit or delete data?
No. The current implementation is read-only. AI assistants can view and search data but cannot create, modify, or delete anything in Dashpivot. This is intentional for safety.
Will write capabilities be added later?
Write capabilities will be added in the future, customers will be informed of this ahead of release.
Security & Privacy
Is customer data safe?
Yes. Security is built into every layer:
Authentication: Users must log in with their Dashpivot credentials, AI tools cannot access data without a valid login
Authorization: Users only see data they already have permission to access, the Sitemate MCP respects existing Dashpivot permissions
Read-only: AI can only view data, not change it
Will Dashpivot data be used to train or improve AI models?
When a customer uses the Sitemate MCP with an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude, the relevant Dashpivot data flows to the AI service the customer chooses to use. Customers should review the privacy policies of their chosen AI provider. We recommend:
Using enterprise AI accounts when available
Understanding your AI provider's data retention policies
Following your organisation's AI usage guidelines
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