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How ChatGPT and Claude reach your ERP data, step by step
When you ask ChatGPT, Claude or Grok about your orders, the answer comes from your own AIMS360 database. On the way it passes two checkpoints: an AI connector, called an MCP server, and a secure doorway, called an API. Pick a question below and watch it make the trip.
By Shahrooz "Shawn" Kohan, CEO, AIMS360. Published November 6, 2026.
Short answer: ChatGPT, Claude and Grok never open your database directly. Your question goes to the AIMS360 AI connector, an MCP server, which picks one of 17 set tasks. That task goes through the AIMS360 API, a secure doorway that checks you're signed in and only lets through what your AIMS360 role allows. The API reads your company's own Microsoft Azure SQL database and the answer comes back to your chat. The AI can't delete anything, and nothing in your data changes until you approve a preview.
Watch a question travel to your data
Pick a question. The card moves through each step, and the panel under the drawing says what's happening in plain words. Tap a step or a label to jump to it.
You ask in Claude, ChatGPT or Grok. The AI connector (MCP server) picks one of 17 set tasks. The secure doorway (API) checks your login and role. Microsoft Azure SQL (Your Database) finds the data. The answer comes back to your chat.
What happens at each step
The same 5 steps run every time, whether you ask a question or ask the AI to make a change.
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You ask, in Claude, ChatGPT or Grok
You type a question the way you'd ask a coworker. For example: which orders ship late this week?
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The AI connector picks a task
The AI connector is called an MCP server. AIMS360 runs it so AI apps can work with your ERP. It has 17 set tasks, like looking up orders or creating a customer, and it picks the one that fits your question. The AI can't make up a new one.
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The secure doorway checks your access
The doorway is called an API. It checks that you're signed in with your own AIMS360 login and only lets through what your AIMS360 role allows. If your role can't see something in AIMS360, the AI can't see it for you either.
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Your database finds the data
Your company's AIMS360 data lives in its own Microsoft Azure SQL database, in Microsoft's East US or West US region. The database finds the records that answer your question, like this week's late orders.
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The answer comes back to your chat
You get the answer as plain words, a table, a chart or an Excel file. If you asked for a change, like a new order, you see a preview first and nothing saves until you approve it.
Words to know
Five terms you'll hear when people talk about AI and your ERP, and what each one means here.
- AI app
- The chat tool you type inChatGPT, Claude or Grok. You ask in normal words and read the answer there.
- MCP server
- The AI connectorMCP stands for Model Context Protocol, an open standard that lets AI apps use outside tools. AIMS360's MCP server is the AI connector. It gives the AI app 17 set tasks for your ERP data and nothing else.
- API
- The secure doorwayAPI stands for application programming interface. It's the doorway one program uses to ask another for data. The AIMS360 API checks who's asking and what their role allows before anything goes in or out.
- Microsoft Azure SQL (Your Database)
- Where your data livesA database service Microsoft runs in its own data centers. Your orders, customers, styles, inventory, invoices and purchase orders sit in your company's own database there.
- Backup
- Your safety copyA copy of your database that updates all the time. It can be restored to any minute in the last 35 days, and it's copied to a second, separate Azure region, so your data still exists if a whole region goes down.
Is it safe to let AI reach my ERP data?
The AI only gets what the person asking could already get, and every change waits for a yes.
You sign in as you
Everyone uses their own AIMS360 login. The AI can only do what that person could do by signing in to AIMS360 themselves.
Nothing changes without a yes
4 of the 17 tasks can change data: create an order, update an order, create a customer and update a customer. Each one shows a preview and saves nothing until you approve it.
There's no delete task
The AI can look things up and, with your approval, add or update orders and customers. It can't remove anything.
Locked while stored and while moving
Your data is encrypted in the database and on its way to you. Backups run all the time, with restore to any minute in the last 35 days.
One switch per person
Turn off a person's AIMS360 login and their AI access ends with it. Nobody else is affected.
Checked by outside auditors
Microsoft Azure's data centers carry audit reports like SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001. AIMS360's own SOC 2 report is available on request.
Questions people ask
No. The AI app only talks to the AIMS360 AI connector, called an MCP server. The connector goes through the AIMS360 API, and only the API reaches your database, after it checks your login and your AIMS360 role.
It's an AI connector. MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, an open standard that lets AI apps use outside tools. AIMS360's MCP server gives ChatGPT, Claude and Grok 17 set tasks they can run on your ERP data, and nothing else.
API stands for application programming interface. It's the secure doorway one program uses to ask another for data. In AIMS360 the API checks who's asking and what their role allows before anything comes out of or goes into your database.
It can create and update orders and customers, but only after you see a preview and approve it. There's no delete task, so it can't remove anything.
In your company's own Microsoft Azure SQL database, in Microsoft's East US or West US region. Backups run all the time, can be restored to any minute in the last 35 days, and are copied to a second, separate Azure region.
ChatGPT, Claude and Grok. ChatGPT connects through the AIMS360 plugin in the ChatGPT directory. Claude and Grok connect to the same AIMS360 MCP server as a custom connector. Each person signs in with their own AIMS360 login.
It's an add-on on every AIMS360 plan, Bronze, Silver and Gold, and as of October 2026 there's no charge for it. Each person also needs their own ChatGPT, Claude or Grok account.
See your own question make the trip
Bring a question about your orders or inventory. We'll connect ChatGPT or Claude to AIMS360 on the call and walk through each step live.
ChatGPT is a trademark of OpenAI. Claude is a trademark of Anthropic PBC. Grok is a trademark of xAI. Microsoft and Azure are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. AIMS360 isn't affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any company named here.
