MCP & API

Ask your back office anything. Connect Ascen to AI agents like Claude and ChatGPT and get answers about timesheets, payroll, and margins in plain English. No code required.
Ascen MCP & API
When to Use Which
Example Tools
Use Cases

What is Ascen MCP & API?

Think of it as giving your AI assistant access to Ascen, with your approval for any changes it makes. Built on MCP, the standard AI assistants use to connect securely to business software.

Ascen MCP & API gives your AI agents and your software direct access to the Ascen back office, with your approval required for any change an agent makes. MCP, short for Model Context Protocol, is an open-source standard for connecting AI applications to external systems, according to the Model Context Protocol documentation. Ascen is a hosted remote MCP server, so any compatible AI client can connect with your Ascen account.

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Ascen MCP connects Ascen directly to Claude, ChatGPT, or another AI agent so you can ask questions and complete back-office work in natural language.

Ascen API connects your ATS, platform, or internal applications directly to Ascen through our REST API.

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Connect Ascen to Claude

  1. Open Claude → Settings → Connectors
  2. Select “Add custom connector” and enter your Ascen MCP URL
  3. Connect and sign in with your Ascen account
  4. Enable Ascen from “Search and tools” in your Claude conversation
  5. Start asking Claude to work with Ascen

‍Using ChatGPT? → See how to connect Ascen to ChatGPT.

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When Should You Use MCP vs. the API?

Ascen's MCP and the API were built for different kinds of work.

Use MCP when you want an AI agent to decide which Ascen tools to use based on what you're asking. It's built for Claude, ChatGPT, and your own AI agents. Every write pauses for human confirmation before it executes. Use it for exceptions, research, ad-hoc questions, reporting, and back-office workflows that require judgment.

The API runs your code through a fixed sequence of steps that execute the same way each time. Use the API when your software already knows exactly what to do. It's best for ATS integrations, bulk syncs, scheduled jobs, and high-volume workflows that should run the same way every time.

Use the API for repeatable workflows and MCP for work that benefits from an AI agent's judgment.

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Can an AI Agent Change Payroll Data Without Your Approval?

No, every write an AI agent requests through Ascen MCP pauses for human confirmation before it executes, so nothing changes in your back office until you approve it.

  • Every write waits for your confirmation, including creating a worker, creating an assignment, and approving expenses.
  • You sign in with your own Ascen account when you connect a client.
  • Ascen is a hosted remote MCP server, so there is nothing to install or maintain on your side.
  • Security documentation is available on request through the Ascen Trust Center or security@ascen.com.

This design follows the Model Context Protocol specification, which states that there should always be a human in the loop for tool invocations.

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What Can Your Agent Do?

Add a worker

create_contractor

Create an assignment

create_assignment

Review timesheets

create_timesheet

Approve expenses

decide_expenses

Retrieve payroll

get_paycheck

Run reports

run_report

View all MCP Tools: http://docs.ascen.com/

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Want to connect a different agent? Ascen is a hosted remote MCP server. Add your Ascen MCP URL to any compatible client and authenticate with your Ascen account.

‍Building a platform integration? Use the Ascen REST API instead.

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How Do Staffing Teams Use AI Agents in the Back Office?

Staffing teams use Ascen MCP to hand routine back-office lookups and setup work to an AI agent while a person approves every change. Once connected, just ask your agent for the outcome you want.

How Do Operations Teams Use It?

Operations teams use Ascen MCP to set up new placements and track down missing timesheets before payroll.

  • Onboard a placement: "Onboard the two RNs we placed at Mercy General. W-2, start Monday, standard healthcare screening."
  • Find missing timesheets: "Which timesheets are missing this week and who approves them?"

How Do Finance and Back-Office Teams Use It?

Finance and back-office teams use Ascen MCP to report on margin by client and check employer cost on a rate.

  • Report on margin: "Gross margin by client for August. Flag anything under 18%."
  • Quote a rate: "Employer cost on a $58/hr RN in Ohio?"

How Do Agency Owners and IT Teams Use It?

Agency owners and IT teams use Ascen MCP to connect their ATS and Ascen to the same agent, and the REST API for integrations that run on a fixed schedule.

  • Close the loop with your ATS: "Connect your ATS and Ascen to the same agent. The agent can read a placement from your ATS and create the corresponding worker and assignment in Ascen without re-keying data."
  • Use the Ascen REST API for ATS integrations, bulk syncs, and scheduled jobs.

This setup helps AI-native staffing agencies run more of the back office with less manual work while the staffing firm keeps control.

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Already using Ascen? Enable MCP for your account. Contact your account manager or support@ascen.com, and we'll send you your connection details.

New to Ascen? Talk to our team to get started and add MCP and API access during onboarding.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Tasks Can AI Agents Automate in a Staffing Back Office?

With Ascen MCP, an AI agent can add workers, create assignments, create and review timesheets, approve or reject expenses, pull paycheck details, and run reports on hours, payroll, and margin. Every write pauses for human confirmation before it executes, so your team approves each change the agent makes to your back office.

How Do AI Agents Integrate With an ATS and Accounting Software?

Connect your ATS and Ascen to the same agent through MCP, and the agent can read a placement from your ATS and create the matching worker and assignment in Ascen. For fixed workflows, use the Ascen REST API and pre-built integrations with Loxo, QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite. Learn more about Ascen's pay and bill software.

Which AI Agents Work With Ascen MCP?

Ascen MCP works with Claude, ChatGPT, and your own AI agents. Ascen is a hosted remote MCP server, so any MCP-compatible client can connect when you add your Ascen MCP URL and sign in with your Ascen account. In Claude, you add Ascen as a custom connector under Settings and enable it from Search and tools.

What Is the Difference Between AI Agents and Automation Through an API?

An AI agent connected through Ascen MCP decides which Ascen tools to use based on your request, which suits exceptions, research, reporting, and work that requires judgment. The Ascen REST API runs your code through a fixed sequence of steps, which suits ATS integrations, bulk syncs, scheduled jobs, and high-volume workflows that should run the same way every time.

How Do I Get Access to Ascen MCP?

Existing Ascen customers can enable MCP by contacting their account manager or support@ascen.com, and Ascen will send the connection details. If you are new to Ascen, book a demo with our team to get started and add MCP and API access during onboarding. Once connected, you can start asking your AI agent for back-office outcomes.

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"
An Extension of Our Team
As a business owner, Ascen has allowed us to focus on building relationships, finding exceptional talent, and serving our clients, with complete confidence that back-office operations, compliance, onboarding, payroll, and benefits administration are handled with excellence. They've become an extension of our team, and we're incredibly grateful for the partnership we've built together.
Keith G.
Co-Founder
–
IT & Engineering Staffing Agency
"
Most Important Tool for Our Business
The Ascen platform has been the most important tool for our business.
Founder & CEO
–
Light Industrial Staffing Firm
"
It's So Good, I Don't Think About It.
After starting our staffing agency, Ascen has been very responsive, and the platform is great. Don't take this the wrong way, but it's so good, I don't think about it.
Founder & CEO
–
IT Staffing Firm