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Spectora offers two ways to connect your inspection business data to other tools and AI assistants. Here's how to figure out which one fits what you're trying to do.
Which one do I need?
Which one do I need?
What are you trying to do? | What you need |
Connect Spectora to another tool or build a custom integration — and you are comfortable using technical automation tools or have a developer to help | API |
Use an AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT to ask questions about your Spectora data — no coding required | MCP Server |
What's the difference?
What's the difference?
API
The API is like a waiter at a restaurant. You're sitting at the table, and Spectora's kitchen is full of your data — inspections, reports, clients. The API is the waiter that carries that data back and forth between Spectora and other tools. You don't have to go into the kitchen yourself; the waiter handles it. But you do need to know what you want to order, an automation tool to configure the order, or a developer-built integration app to place the order.
MCP
The MCP is like having a personal chef who knows the whole restaurant. They know the menu, the kitchen, the pantry, and the specials. You just say "I'm hungry and I have a nut allergy" and they figure out the rest — no ordering item by item. As an inspector, that means saying "show me everything I need for tomorrow's jobs" and the AI goes and gets it from Spectora on its own. You give it a goal; it figures out the tools and data to make it happen.
In plain terms: the API lets Spectora's data travel. The MCP lets AI do the driving — so you spend less time in the software and more time in the field.
Find Your Fit
Find Your Fit
If you're saying… | You need… |
"I want to connect Spectora to my CRM" | API |
"I'm a developer / I write code" | API |
"I want to build an integration" | API |
"I want to use Claude or ChatGPT with my Spectora data" | MCP |
"I don't want to code anything" | MCP |
"I want to ask question about my business and get insights via direct responses, reports or dashboards" | MCP |
"I want real-time alerts when something happens in Spectora" | API + Webhooks |
"I'm still not sure" | Ask yourself: do you have a developer to help, or are you looking to do this on your own with an AI tool? |
What AI tools work with the MCP Server?
What AI tools work with the MCP Server?
Claude Desktop
Claude Code
ChatGPT (requires a paid plan with developer mode enabled)
Cursor
Any other MCP-compatible AI tool
Same Data, Different Access
Same Data, Different Access
The MCP Server and the API pull from the same underlying Spectora data. The MCP is simply a layer on top of the API that AI assistants can navigate on their own.
Think of it like your inspection report. The data doesn't change whether a client views it on their phone or prints it out. The format is different, but the information is the same. Using MCP doesn't give you different or more data than the API, just a different, more conversational way to access it.
Note: The AI Connector is read-only. It can pull and analyze your Spectora data, but it cannot book, edit, or delete anything in your account. You stay in control of every action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Spectora Advanced plan to use the API or MCP?
Not at this time. Pricing and availability are still being finalized and will be announced when the feature is fully released. In the meantime, you'll need a company admin account to generate an API key at developer.spectora.com.
Do I need to know how to code to use the MCP Server?
No. The MCP Server is designed for inspectors who want to ask questions about their Spectora data using plain language through an AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT. No coding or technical setup beyond the initial connection is required.
Can I use both the API and the MCP Server?
Yes. They're not mutually exclusive. Some inspectors may use the API for a custom CRM integration while also using the MCP Server to ask questions about their business data through an AI assistant.
Is my Spectora data safe when using the API or MCP?
Yes. Both the API and MCP Server use API key authentication — your key is tied to your company account and should be kept secure. Never share your API key publicly or expose it in client-facing code. If you believe your key has been compromised, you can roll it immediately from the API Keys page at developer.spectora.com.
If you have any questions or feedback, write into our chat bubble or email support@spectora.com!
