Getting started
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      Getting Started with the MerchantSpring MCP Server & Claude Desktop (Beta)

      This guide will walk you through the setup process for using MerchantSpring’s MCP server with Claude Desktop.

      1. What You’ll Need

      Before starting, make sure you have:

      • An active Claude Desktop subscription.

      • The MCP configuration file (attached to your email).

      • An API key:

        • The configuration file includes a demo store API key to get you started.

        • Once you have your own API Gateway access, replace the demo key with your own API key.

      • NodeJS in the latest version is installed on your machine

      2. Update the MCP Configuration File

      1. Open the configuration file you received (e.g., Claude_desktop_config.json) in a text editor.

        1. {
            "globalShortcut": "",
            "mcpServers": {
              "merchantspring": {
                "command": "npx",
                "args": [
                  "-y",
                  "--package", "node@22",
                  "--package", "mcp-remote@latest",
                  "mcp-remote",
                  "https://mcp.merchantspring.io/mcp",
                  "--header", "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}"
                ],
                "env": {
                  "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer xkEl4VQlVma2pDK12puFh8hbz1vxjlHY4tnpaSTI"
                }
              }
              
            }
          }

      2. Locate the section containing:

         "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer XXX"

      3. Replace XXX with your API key:

        • Start with the demo store key provided. xkEl4VQlVma2pDK12puFh8hbz1vxjlHY4tnpaSTI

        • Later, replace it with your own API key once you have access.

        • ⚠️ Important: Keep the word Bearer in front of your key.

      3. Apply the Configuration in Claude Desktop

      1. Open Claude Desktop.

      2. Go to Settings → Manage Connectors (scroll to the bottom).

      3. Select Developer → Edit Config.

      4. Open the Claude_desktop_config.json file.

      5. Copy and paste your updated configuration into this file.

      6. Save the file.

      4. Restart Claude Desktop

      • Quit Claude Desktop completely.

      • Reopen it.

      • The updated configuration will be picked up automatically, establishing a connection with the MerchantSpring MCP server.

      5. Enable MCP in Settings

      • After restart, go back to Settings.

      • Ensure that MerchantSpring MCP is listed and toggled on.

      • You now have access to all MCP-enabled tools and API calls.

      6. Test the Connection

      1. Start a new chat in Claude Desktop.

      2. Try a simple request, such as:

        “How many channels do I have connected?”

      3. The MCP server will fetch data using the connected APIs.

      7. Example Use Cases

      • Channel overview: Quickly see connected stores and channels.

      • Performance reports: Request traffic, conversion, and sales insights.

      • Custom analysis: Ask for tailored insights, e.g., “What are my highest-traffic SKUs in the US Amazon store?”

      • Visual dashboards: Ask Claude to generate dashboards from data.

      8. Permissions

      • Claude Desktop may prompt you to allow tool access.

      • We recommend selecting “Always Allow” for smoother workflows.

      9. FAQ & Support

      • Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document for common setup issues and troubleshooting.

      • Remember: the MCP server requires a valid MerchantSpring API key to connect to your own data.

      10. Feedback

      This feature is currently in beta. We’d love to hear your thoughts:

      • What works well?

      • What could be improved?

      • What additional features would you like to see?