With the Pickware MCP Server, you connect AI assistants such as Claude or ChatGPT directly to Pickware for Shopify or Shopware 6. In Claude, you set up a connector for this; in ChatGPT, an app. Instead of clicking through menus, you access your ERP data via chat, run bulk changes, or handle routine tasks — in a few prompts instead of many clicks.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard. The Pickware MCP Server therefore works not just with a single provider, but with all AI assistants that support MCP.
What you can do with the MCP Server
Query data – stock levels, open supplier orders, order volume, picking throughput, daily reports.
Ask cross-entity questions – "Which products with stock 0 appear in open orders?"
Look up suppliers and products – "Show me which products we order from supplier XY."
Check shipping status – "What is the current shipping status of order #12345?"
The AI assistant performs every action with the permissions of your Pickware user account. What your user account is not allowed to do in the Admin, the AI assistant cannot do either.
Requirements
Pickware plan Professional or Enterprise, the same for Shopify and Shopware 6. The MCP Server is also available during a Pickware trial period. In Starter and Advanced, the Pickware MCP page shows a note about the higher plan instead of the URL. You can see all features per plan in the plan overview for Shopware 6 or for Shopify.
For Shopware 6: the Pickware ERP, WMS & POS extension. With the individual plugins Pickware ERP or ERP Pro, Pickware AI and the MCP Server are not available. Learn more in the article I still use ERP or ERP Pro: What does the switch to the new Pickware extension mean?
A user account with an AI assistant that supports MCP (e.g. Claude, ChatGPT).
A user account in the Pickware Admin or Shopware Admin with the MCP permission.
Step 1: Copy the MCP URL
In the Pickware Admin (Shopify) or the Shopware Admin (Shopware 6), open Settings → Extensions → Pickware MCP. The MCP URL field contains the address of your shop's MCP Server. Copy it using the copy icon in the field; you need it in the next step.
The MCP URL is the same for all users of your shop. Which user account your AI assistant works with is determined when you sign in.
Set up the connection with Claude
In Claude, you add Pickware as a custom connector. You will not find Pickware by searching in Claude's connector directory.
The quickest way is directly from the Pickware MCP page:
Under Settings → Extensions → Pickware MCP, click Connect to Claude. Claude opens the dialog for a custom connector, with the name and MCP URL already filled in.
Confirm the dialog in Claude.
You are redirected to the Pickware Admin or Shopware Admin. Sign in with the user account whose permissions Claude should work with, and confirm access.
Done. In every new chat, you can work with your Pickware data.
If you do not see the Connect to Claude button, set up the connector manually: In Claude, open Customize → Connectors, select Add custom connector, enter Pickware as the name, and paste the MCP URL from step 1. Then continue with the sign-in as described above.
Connectors are available in the Claude plans Free, Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise.
Configure permissions
After connecting, your AI assistant shows you an overview of the available Pickware tools. Each tool has a description and a note on whether it accesses your data in a read or write capacity. You can set per tool how access should be handled:
Always allow — The tool is used automatically when the AI assistant needs it for your request.
Ask every time — You are asked for confirmation before each use.
Deny — The tool is completely disabled and cannot be used.
Currently, most of the available tools are read-only — they query data but do not change anything. Write tools that can modify data (e.g. updating order items or setting tags) are being released step by step and can be controlled individually. This way, you always stay in control of what the AI assistant is allowed to do in your system.
Set up the connection with ChatGPT
Enable developer mode: In ChatGPT in the browser, turn on Settings → Security & Login → Developer mode.
Copy the MCP URL from step 1.
Create a new MCP app: Open Settings → Apps and select Create or the + icon. Alternatively, OpenAI also lists the "ChatGPT Plugins" page for this.
Enter the MCP endpoint: Give the app a name and paste your MCP URL as the Endpoint. Also select the appropriate authentication, e.g. OAuth or No Authentication. For remote MCPs, ChatGPT currently supports SSE and Streaming HTTP.
Run "Scan Tools": ChatGPT connects to the MCP server and reads in the tools offered there. With OAuth, the authorization dialog may open at this point; complete it and then let the tool scan finish running.
Create the app: Then select Create. The app then appears as a developer app or draft in your app settings.
Use it in chat: In a chat, go to Plus menu → Developer mode and select your MCP app there. ChatGPT can then call its tools.
If the connection with ChatGPT fails
If ChatGPT preselects CIMD during sign-in, the connection will not be established. In this case, switch to DCR in ChatGPT. This is not a problem with your Pickware permissions.
Allow read-only access
If ChatGPT should only query data and not change anything, completely uncheck the Mutation Tools (write tools) in ChatGPT.
Gemini
Connecting Gemini to the Pickware MCP Server is not available.
Example prompts
"Which products are below the reorder point and need to be reordered?"
"What did we order from supplier XY last quarter?"
"Which products with stock 0 appear in open orders, and what is the open quantity per product?"
"Where do I have a problem today – stock, shipping, or picking?"
Security and permissions
The MCP Server runs in your own Pickware installation. There is no additional central data sharing.
The connection applies only to your user account. Employees connect their AI assistant with their own Pickware user account.
You can disconnect the connection in your AI assistant at any time or revoke access in the Pickware Admin.
Pickware releases write tools very conservatively. Each write tool goes through a separate review and is enabled individually.
Additional information on data protection can be found in the article Data protection and data processing with Pickware AI.
For agencies and testing
The connection is always tied to a Pickware user account and works with its permissions. If an agency works with the MCP Server or you want to test it, create a separate user account for this with exactly the permissions needed for the task.
Test new workflows on a staging system if possible, and set write tools to Ask every time or Deny.
Support
If you have questions or problems, submit a support request.