What is MCP?

MCP is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications. Just as USB-C provides a standardized way to connect your devices to various peripherals and accessories, MCP provides a standardized way to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.

Agentforce Context Protocol (ACP) is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) built with Agentforce and at its core. ACP is a Salesforce-native protocol inspired by MCP’s architecture but purpose-built for the Salesforce ecosystem. ACP enables Agentforce to seamlessly connect with external tools while maintaining API compatibility with MCP where beneficial.

Why ACP Instead of Pure MCP?

Salesforce Optimization

  • Leverage native features like Platform Events, Named Credentials, Network Security, and Scalablility.

Enterprise Features

  • Built-in governance
  • Field-level security
  • Audit trails

Performance

  • Optimized for Salesforce’s architecture and limits

Control

  • Define our own evolution path while learning from MCP