With Claude Desktop you can query, analyse and edit your Exact Online administration through natural language — no API knowledge or code required. The connection runs via the Model Context Protocol (MCP) with Ledger Botje as the bridge. This guide: what you need, how to set it up step by step, and which first prompts deliver immediate value.
What is Claude Desktop?
Claude Desktop is the native macOS and Windows application from Anthropic that lets you chat with Claude directly — outside the browser. Since late 2024 the app supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP) natively, allowing Claude to connect to external systems like Exact Online via an MCP server. That opens the door to full ERP integration from a chat window on your desktop.
Why connect Claude Desktop to Exact Online?
Claude is known for careful handling of complex data, long context windows and strong tool use — exactly the qualities you want for ERP work. In practice that means you can:
- Ask questions directly about stock, orders, invoices and debtors in plain English.
- Trigger actions in Exact Online (sales orders, deliveries, warehouse transfers) without jumping between screens.
- Generate reports based on live Exact Online data — no more Excel exports.
- Work locally with the Desktop app: faster response, no browser tab full of Exact tabs.
For a broader overview of what AI can do in Exact Online, see the Exact Online AI integration.
What do you need?
For a working Claude Desktop × Exact Online connection you need four things:
- Claude Desktop (free download) on macOS or Windows.
- An Anthropic subscription: Claude Pro (€18/month), Team or Enterprise. The free tier does not support MCP connectors.
- An Exact Online account with API access — applies to virtually all business plans.
- A Ledger Botje account — acts as the MCP server between Claude and Exact Online. Basic from €39/month (read-only), Advanced €59/month (read and write). 14-day free trial, no credit card.
Downloading and installing Claude Desktop
Go to claude.ai/download and download the version for your operating system. After installing, sign in with your Anthropic account. When you open the app for the first time, check via Settings → General that your version supports the Connectors functionality. Versions from late 2024 onwards support MCP connectors natively.
Step by step: connecting Claude Desktop to Exact Online
The setup takes under five minutes. Follow these steps in order:
Step 1 — Create a Ledger Botje account
Go to the Ledger Botje pricing page and choose a plan. For Claude Desktop, Basic is enough — but if you want Claude to also perform actions (creating orders, booking deliveries) you need Advanced. You get 14 days free to test.
Step 2 — Connect Exact Online via OAuth
After signing in to your Ledger Botje dashboard, click Connect Exact Online. You will be redirected to Exact Online for OAuth authorisation. Sign in and grant Ledger Botje permission to access your administration. Your password is never stored by Ledger Botje.
Step 3 — Add the MCP connector in Claude Desktop
Open Claude Desktop and navigate to:
- Settings (click your profile in the top right)
- Connectors
- Add custom connector
Enter:
- Name:
Ledger Botje - URL:
https://ledgerbotje.nl/app/mcp/
Click Add. Claude automatically detects that the server requires OAuth2 authentication and opens a browser window.
Step 4 — Authorise with your Ledger Botje account
Sign in with your Ledger Botje account in the OAuth popup window. After successful authorisation the window closes automatically and you will see in Claude Desktop that the connector is active. The 219+ Ledger Botje tools (such as items_stock, salesorders.search, receivables.outstanding) are now available to Claude.
Step 5 — Test with your first prompt
Open a new conversation and type: "How many outstanding invoices do I have?". Claude calls the right MCP tool, fetches the data from Exact Online and presents a structured answer. Working? Then your connection is live.
First prompts in Claude Desktop with Exact Online
Here are 7 prompts that deliver immediate value — copy and paste into Claude Desktop:
- "Give me an overview of all outstanding sales invoices, grouped by customer, sorted by outstanding amount."
- "Which items are below their reorder point? Sort by urgency."
- "Show all sales orders from this month with status not yet delivered."
- "Create a purchase order with supplier ABC for 100 units of item X1234." (Advanced plan required)
- "Analyse revenue per item group for the last quarter."
- "Which debtors have invoices outstanding for more than 60 days?"
- "Draft a reminder email for customer Jansen BV based on their outstanding invoices."
More examples in the prompt library.
Tips for productive work with Claude Desktop and Exact Online
- Start a Project in Claude Desktop for your administration. That keeps context across multiple conversations.
- Use Sonnet for speed, Opus for deep analysis. Sonnet is faster for routine tasks, Opus better for complex reports.
- Combine with Artifacts: ask Claude to build a report inside an Artifact — you get a reusable HTML or markdown version.
- Set boundaries for write actions: in the Ledger Botje settings, enable or disable per tool whether Claude can write. Start read-only, expand step by step.
- Work across multiple administrations: switch between divisions in Exact Online via a prompt — Claude keeps context within the conversation.
Frequently asked questions about Claude Desktop and Exact Online
Does this work with the free version of Claude?
No. MCP connectors in Claude Desktop require Claude Pro (€18/month), Team or Enterprise. The free tier does not include this functionality. See Claude AI in Exact Online for plan details.
Can Claude also create data in Exact Online?
Yes, with the Ledger Botje Advanced plan (€59/month). Claude can then create sales orders, purchase orders, deliveries, warehouse transfers and more. With Basic (€39/month), only read access is available.
Does it also work with Claude in the browser (claude.ai)?
Yes, claude.ai (browser) also supports MCP connectors under the same conditions. The Desktop app does offer a faster experience and better integration with your work environment (shortcuts, local files, projects).
Is my Exact Online data safe?
Yes. Ledger Botje uses OAuth 2.1 for authentication, encrypted token storage and logs every action. Your password is never seen by Ledger Botje or Claude. Read more about MCP security for Exact Online.
Can I use Claude Desktop as an AI agent for Exact Online?
Yes. Claude Desktop supports agentic workflows — Claude can independently execute multiple steps in sequence. Read our guide Exact Online AI Agent: Set Up Autonomous ERP Automation.
What if the connector does not work?
Check that your Claude Desktop version is from late 2024 or newer, that you have an active Ledger Botje subscription and that the URL https://ledgerbotje.nl/app/mcp/ is reachable. If problems persist, support can help you via your Ledger Botje dashboard.
Get started
Claude Desktop × Exact Online is operational within five minutes. No Ledger Botje account yet? Start on the pricing page with 14 days free. Want to learn more about MCP first? Read what MCP is or compare MCP vs the Exact Online API.
For the complete overview of AI capabilities in Exact Online, see the Exact Online AI integration. Or go straight to the MCP setup guide for instructions in other AI tools.