Propel, creator of the first product value management (PVM) platform to transform how manufacturers develop, launch, and service products, announced availability of Model Context Protocol (MCP). Propel is the first product lifecycle management (PLM) vendor to deliver MCP for production use. Available now, Propel MCP establishes a direct connection between enterprise AI platforms and live product data in Propel, enabling manufacturers to put AI to work on real-time product decisions. Propel MCP enables users to expand their access to product data directly from their preferred AI clients/tools with the same security and governance that they’ve defined in Propel.
For manufacturers, this means the AI tools enterprises are already deploying can query live product records inside Propel, with accurate, timely answers about product data. Additionally, Propel can reach out to the external systems and data sources manufacturers already depend on, connecting to third-party MCP servers for supplier intelligence, component data, and ERP records, and bringing that live information directly into product decisions inside Propel.
"Propel is the first PLM to deliver MCP for production use. Legacy PLM vendors have introduced AI assistants that operate within their own interfaces, approaches that keep product teams tethered to aging tools,” said Ross Meyercord, CEO of Propel Software. “MCP connects Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot directly to live product data, right where work already happens. For manufacturers competing on speed and product quality, that's the difference between being AI-ready today and waiting years for a legacy vendor's roadmap to catch up.”
Inbound connectivity allows external AI clients to connect to Propel, query live product data, answer questions about product records, and execute simple operations; it enables users to “talk” to their PLM without logging in to the system. Users can also build custom agents that connect to third party MCP servers from other enterprise platforms such as NetSuite and SAP. Inventory, supplier risk data, and workflows can be brought directly into Propel. Each agent is configured to specific needs and enterprise solutions so guardrails and process flows remain in place.
"Manufacturers expect AI to support decisions across the entire product lifecycle, from design and quality to marketing, sales, and service. That requires AI tools to work with trusted, accurate product data, wherever those tools are being used," said Jim Brown, president and founder, Tech-Clarity. "By connecting enterprise AI assistants directly to live product data, and enabling outreach to ERP and other critical business systems, Propel’s MCP can put a unified, reliable product record to work across the entire enterprise. For manufacturers already investing in AI, that's a meaningful step forward."
