Smartsheet has launched a Model Context Protocol server that connects artificial intelligence tools to data in its work management platform. More than 4,000 users adopted the product in the first few days.
This server is designed to give your AI assistant access to live project and operational data in Smartsheet, including tasks, timelines, risks, dependencies, and more. Currently available with Anthropic’s Claude native integration, ChatGPT and Gemini integrations will follow.
The announcement reflects a broader push by software companies to enable AI systems to do more than generate summaries and answer prompts. Work management means linking models to the data and workflows used by project teams so they can update records, identify issues, and support day-to-day execution.
Customers can use a server with over 35 AI tools. Initial usage has generated a total of 1.74 million actions since launch, with 48% of actions performed through Claude advancing work by creating or updating tasks rather than simply retrieving information.
Early intake
Smartsheet positions the product as a way to address a common problem in enterprise AI deployments: access to structured operational data. While many AI tools can analyze documents and answer common questions, they often lack a direct link to systems that manage project plans, dependencies, and workflow changes.
This gap is becoming more pronounced as companies seek to measure the return on their AI spending. Smartsheet cited Gartner data showing that only one in five AI projects achieves a return on investment, highlighting how difficult it is for organizations to turn AI budgets into operational results.
Smartsheet says its platform is used by more than 100,000 organizations, creating a large installed base for new products. The system is designed to work across an organization’s existing AI tools, rather than forcing teams into a single assistant.
“For years, Smartsheet has been the place where enterprise work happens, and with our MCP, our customers can now connect their AI tools directly to the data and systems that run their businesses,” said Pratima Arora, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Smartsheet. “We are moving beyond the ‘chat’ stage of AI and into a new era where AI can impact the productivity of teams working on strategic projects.”
Focus on cost
Along with workflow access, Smartsheet also discusses costs for using AI. Large language model providers typically charge based on token consumption, and businesses are becoming increasingly wary of how those costs will rise as AI tools become more widely used across organizations.
According to Smartsheet, its MCP server compresses and filters data before sending it to the AI model, reducing transfer volume and reducing token-related fees. A lighter data payload also provides faster response times when users query large project portfolios.
Governance is also central to the launch. All interactions initiated by human users or AI are logged and available for audit, allowing organizations to monitor how AI tools interact with business data, which tools are used, and how tokens are spent.
This audit trail is likely to appeal to companies under pressure to demonstrate that their use of AI is under control, especially in areas where project delivery, compliance, and internal approvals rely on clear records of changes and decisions.
Liz Miller, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research, said commercial testing of enterprise AI goes beyond content generation.
“The true ROI of enterprise AI isn’t measured by how many questions you can ask or how much text you can generate. It’s the output of the AI. It’s how accurate your decisions, actions, and results are.” Miller said. “By integrating AI models, businesses can leverage AI to increase productivity. Combining AI models with detailed organizational data creates business intelligent advisors that close critical visibility gaps that can cost large organizations thousands of hours of status meetings and manual risk assessments.”
Partner view
This product has also been adopted by partners who use Smartsheet in customer projects. These partners often work closely on large-scale transformation programs and can influence how AI tools are integrated into projects and operational software.
Julian Weber, partner at AMX, explained that Claude’s integration is an extension of Smartsheet’s existing role in providing customers with visibility across complex project data.
“For years, we’ve relied on Smartsheet to help our customers achieve transparency across complex, global project data. The native Claude integration builds on that foundation, bringing an AI layer that uncovers trends, risks, and significant changes through simple, natural conversations based on live business data,” said Weber. “This is a meaningful shift in how teams operate and decisions are made. The opportunities ahead are huge. By deploying this to our customers, we will transform the way they work with data at scale, enabling users to create intelligent, real-time insights easier and faster than ever before.”
MCP Server is part of a broader effort by Smartsheet to move AI from individual assistance to organizational use within project and operational systems. Early numbers suggest that the transition is already underway, with 48% of AI actions resulting in the creation or updating of tasks rather than just requests for information.
