2 min read
Have a conversation with your data using TimeXtender MCP!
Maybe you know the feeling: you have a mountain of data, but getting a clear answer to a simple question still takes far too long. What if you could just ask your data a question, in plain language, and get an answer right away? With the new TimeXtender MCP server, that is now possible. In this article I share my first experiences.
What is MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that allows AI models such as Claude to communicate directly with external systems and data sources. TimeXtender has built an MCP server on top of this standard, so that an AI assistant can query your TimeXtender data model directly, without you having to write SQL yourself.
Getting started
Setting up the MCP server was surprisingly straightforward. After connecting Claude to the TimeXtender MCP server, I could immediately start asking questions in natural language about the data available in our data warehouse.
Asking questions in practice
I started with a simple question: what was revenue this year? This was the result.
Then I increased the complexity and asked for a Pareto analysis of our customers based on revenue. Again, the answer came back quickly and correctly, complete with a clear visualization.
Next, I asked for a regression analysis to see whether there was a relationship between two variables in our data set. The MCP server was able to set this up without any problems and presented the outcome clearly.
Working with multiple models
What struck me most is that the MCP server does not just look at one table, but can combine multiple data models within TimeXtender. This makes it possible to ask cross-domain questions without first having to build a new data model yourself.
What isn't possible (yet)?
The MCP server is not a replacement for a full BI environment. Complex, recurring reports and dashboards are still better built in a dedicated BI tool. But for ad hoc questions and quick exploration of your data, it is an extremely valuable addition.
Contact
Curious what the TimeXtender MCP server can do for your organization? Sign up here and we will get in touch with you.
Written by Juriaan Hensbroek
Senior BI Consultant