Zendesk Sell MCP server
Zendesk Sell is a modern sales CRM platform for managing leads, contacts, deals, and sales activities. An MCP server for Zendesk Sell lets AI agents manage the sales pipeline, track customer interactions, forecast revenue, and automate sales workflows.
Setting up an MCP server
This article covers the standard steps for creating an MCP server in AI Gateway and connecting it to an AI client. The steps are the same for every integration — application-specific details (API credentials, OAuth endpoints, and scopes) are covered in the individual application pages.
Before you begin
You'll need:
- Access to AI Gateway with permission to create MCP servers
- API credentials for the application you're connecting (see the relevant application page for what to collect)
Create an MCP server
Find the API in the catalog
- Sign in to AI Gateway and select MCP Servers from the left navigation.
- Select New MCP Server.
- Search for the application you want to connect, then select it from the catalog.
Configure the server
- Enter a Name for your server — something descriptive that identifies both the application and its purpose (for example, "Zendesk Support — Prod").
- Enter a Description so your team knows what the server is for.
- Set the Timeout value. 30 seconds works for most APIs; increase to 60 seconds for APIs that return large payloads.
- Toggle Production mode on if this server will be used in a live workflow.
- Select Next.
Configure authentication
Enter the authentication details for the application. This varies by service — see the Authentication section of the relevant application page for the specific credentials, OAuth URLs, and scopes to use.
Configure security
- Set any Rate limits appropriate for your use case and the API's own limits.
- Enable Logging if you want AI Gateway to record requests and responses for auditing.
- Select Next.
Deploy
Review the summary, then select Deploy. AI Gateway provisions the server and provides a server URL you'll use when configuring your AI client.
Connect to an AI client
Once your server is deployed, you'll need to add it to the AI client your team uses. Select your client for setup instructions:
Tips
- You can create multiple MCP servers for the same application — for example, a read-only server for reporting agents and a read-write server for automation workflows.
- If you're unsure which OAuth scopes to request, start with the minimum read-only set and add write scopes only when needed. Most application pages include scope recommendations.
- You can edit a server's name, description, timeout, and security settings after deployment without redeploying.
Authentication
Zendesk Sell uses OAuth 2.0 authentication through its own API platform. In your Zendesk Sell account, go to Settings > OAuth to create an OAuth application and obtain a Client ID and Client Secret. The OAuth endpoints are: https://api.getbase.com/oauth2/authorize for authorization and https://api.getbase.com/oauth2/token for token exchange. Required scopes are read (view all records), write (create and update data), and profile (access user profile). The base API URL is https://api.getbase.com/v2.
Available tools
The Zendesk Sell MCP server provides tools for managing leads, contacts, deals, activities, and sales analytics.
Lead Management
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| create_lead | Create a new lead |
| get_lead | Retrieve lead details by ID |
| update_lead | Update lead properties and status |
| delete_lead | Delete a lead |
| list_leads | List leads with filtering and pagination |
| search_leads | Search leads by criteria |
Contact Management
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| create_contact | Create a new contact |
| get_contact | Retrieve contact details |
| update_contact | Update contact information |
| delete_contact | Delete a contact |
| list_contacts | List contacts with filtering |
| link_contact_to_account | Associate contact with organization |
Deal Pipeline
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| create_deal | Create a new opportunity |
| get_deal | Retrieve deal details |
| update_deal | Update deal status, value, or owner |
| delete_deal | Delete a deal |
| list_deals | List deals with filtering |
| search_deals | Search deals by criteria |
Activity Tracking
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| create_activity | Log a call, email, or meeting |
| get_activity | Retrieve activity details |
| update_activity | Update activity information |
| list_activities | List activities with filtering |
| delete_activity | Delete an activity record |
Account Management
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| create_account | Create a new organization/account |
| get_account | Retrieve account details |
| update_account | Update account information |
| delete_account | Delete an account |
| list_accounts | List accounts with filtering |
Tasks & Reminders
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| create_task | Create a follow-up task |
| get_task | Retrieve task details |
| update_task | Update task status or due date |
| delete_task | Delete a task |
| list_tasks | List tasks with filtering |
Analytics & Reporting
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| get_sales_stats | Retrieve sales metrics and analytics |
| list_revenue_forecast | Get revenue forecast data |
| get_pipeline_value | Calculate total pipeline value |
Tips
Use deal probabilities and close dates when creating deals to enable accurate revenue forecasting.
Link contacts to accounts to maintain proper account hierarchies and avoid duplicate data.
Include all relevant details (duration, notes, outcomes) when logging activities to build a complete interaction history.
Implement automated lead scoring by checking lead status and engagement before assignment.
Use the search tools with filters instead of retrieving all records to respect API rate limits.
Cequence AI Gateway