⚠️ Alpha Feature: This feature is part of our new experimental track and available to a limited group of early access users. It’s still in active development, may undergo significant changes, and may contain bugs. We’d love your feedback as we continue to develop and refine this feature.
Overview
Bolt Staff Agent Plugins extends the capabilities of your Bolt Staff Agent by connecting it to external applications through Zapier. Instead of being limited to tasks within Element451, your agent can now interact with thousands of other tools, from CRMs to communication apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
In short, Staff Agent Plugins give your Staff Agent new “skills” beyond Element451, helping you break down data silos and streamline tasks across platforms.
Example Use Cases
Pull information from a third-party CRM into a staff chat
Trigger a Slack notification when a specific question is asked
Add rows to a Google Sheet based on agent conversation data
Automate steps in complex workflows without switching between platforms
How It Works
Behind the scenes, this feature uses a secure "MCP" (Multi-Channel Plugin) server integration to bridge your Bolt Staff Agent with external services. For now, Zapier is the only integration that is supported.
Here’s what happens once set up:
Admins configure Zapier actions that the agent is allowed to use.
The agent is granted limited access to those external tools via Zapier.
When a user requests something that fits, the agent automatically selects the right action and executes it — no manual steps or code required.
🧠 Good to Know: Access can be tightly scoped. You decide which tools and actions the agent is allowed to use, providing security and control over what it can (and can’t) do.
Setting It Up
Prerequisites
You must have a Zapier account with access to the apps you want to connect.
You must be an admin in Element451 with permission to configure Staff Agents.
Step 1: Create an MCP Server in Zapier
Step 1: Create an MCP Server in Zapier
Visit mcp.zapier.com and sign in with your Zapier account.
Click + New MCP Server.
In the New MCP Server dialog:
MCP Client: Select Other
Name: Give it something recognizable (e.g., “E451 Outlook Connector”)
Click Create MCP Server.
Step 2: Add Tools to Your MCP Server
Step 2: Add Tools to Your MCP Server
From the Configure tab of your server:
You’ll see your selected client (“Other”)
Click + Add Tool.
Search for and select the app you want to connect to (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Google Sheets).
Choose whether to allow access to all tools within that app or select just one.
Authenticate your account when prompted.
Configure any additional app-specific settings.
Click Save.
🔁 You can repeat this to add multiple tools to the same server.
Step 3: Copy the Server URL
Step 3: Copy the Server URL
Navigate to the Connect tab.
Under Connect with server-specific URL, click Copy URL.
This is the URL you’ll use in Element451 to link your plugin in the next step.
Step 4: Add the Zapier Plugin in Element451
Step 4: Add the Zapier Plugin in Element451
Log in to Element451.
Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
Navigate to Settings > Integrations.
In the left-hand menu, select Staff Agent Plugins.
Click + Add Plugin.
Select Plugin Type: Choose Zapier
In the plugin setup window:
Identifier: Enter an internal name for the plug-in. We recommend making it match the same name you used in Zapier.
URL: Paste the Server URL you copied from Zapier
Headers (optional): Add any HTTP headers if needed
Click Create (upper right).
You're Connected! Next Steps...
You're Connected! Next Steps...
You’ll now see your Zapier plugin listed in the plugin list. Your Bolt Staff Agents can start using it to trigger actions in your connected apps.
Need to do more? Just repeat the process to add additional plugins for different tools or tasks.
✨ Pro Tip: You can create reusable Zaps in Zapier and use them as the endpoint actions for your agent, which is great for maintaining consistency and security.
Video Setup Guide + Use Case Demo
The video below guides you through setting up a Staff Agent Plugin using Zapier's MCP, which connects your Staff Agent in Element451 to thousands of applications.
You'll learn:
How to configure the plugin in Zapier
How to connect the plugin in Element451
How to utilize the plugin via a demo use case
Managing Plugins
To edit your settings or delete a plugin in Element451:
Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
Navigate to Settings > Integrations.
In the left-hand menu, select Staff Agent Plugins.
Locate your plugin from the list and select the pencil icon to edit or the trash can icon to delete.
To manage the plugin's tools and Zapier settings, you will need to do that from your Zapier account. Visit mcp.zapier.com and sign in with your Zapier account.
Use Case Examples
Curious about how you could use Bolt Staff Agent Plugins? Here are a few examples of applications you could connect to and how you could use them.
🎥 Be sure to check out our setup guide video, where we walk you through each of these use case examples.
Outlook: Finding, Summarizing, + Forwarding Email
Outlook: Finding, Summarizing, + Forwarding Email
Typeform: Retrieving Form Response Data
Typeform: Retrieving Form Response Data
Microsoft Excel: Looking Up Tuition Rate
Microsoft Excel: Looking Up Tuition Rate
What’s Next?
We’re releasing this feature as an Alpha, and we’re actively seeking feedback. If you try it, let us know:
What apps are you using?
What worked well?
Where did you run into trouble?