Board is continuing to develop its enterprise planning environment with two artificial intelligence-based innovations: Board Architect Agent and Board MCP. Presented respectively as a preview and closed beta, these two innovations address complementary challenges. The first is designed to simplify the creation, analysis and evolution of planning applications, while the second opens up Board models and data to external AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot.
Board Architect Agent: rethinking the creation and maintenance of EPM applications
With Board Architect Agent, the vendor aims to go beyond simple automated model generation. The AI agent is designed to operate at different stages of the planning application lifecycle, from creation through evolution.
In particular, it can leverage business documents, spreadsheets, existing data and processes to generate planning structures, hierarchies, cubes, measures, reports and workflows in Board. The objective is to enable teams to build on their existing resources rather than rebuild their applications from scratch.
The agent also works on solutions that have already been deployed. Before making any changes, it can analyze models, calculations, relationships and dependencies to better understand how they work. This assessment can help identify unused elements, redundant logic or the potential impact of a change on other application components.
Users can then describe the desired changes in natural language. Board Architect Agent helps prepare modifications to models, reports, workflows and business rules. The proposed changes remain verifiable and version-controlled, and are subject to human validation.
This approach is intended in particular to reduce maintenance efforts and the risks associated with successive changes to EPM applications, while lowering their total cost of ownership.
Board MCP: connecting planning data to AI assistants
At the same time, Board is introducing Board MCP, another innovation designed to open up its environment to artificial intelligence tools.
Based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), this solution connects Board’s planning capabilities to external assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot. Users can therefore query their company’s data from these conversational environments, drawing on the indicators, hierarchies and models available in Board.
In practical terms, a CFO could ask an AI assistant to compare actual spending with the forecast budget, analyze variances or examine the development of certain indicators. The responses can then be based on the company’s data and business rules, rather than on general information disconnected from its planning environment.
Board MCP also makes it possible to interact with Board models from certain AI assistants without necessarily changing interfaces. However, changes remain subject to the permissions and governance rules defined in the platform.
The vendor also intends to make the capabilities of its specialized agents in different fields available through this ecosystem: FP&A, financial controlling, supply chain, merchandising and economics. The ambition is to enable more teams to leverage shared business intelligence to analyze performance and inform their decisions.
Two complementary innovations supporting planning
Although both rely on artificial intelligence, Board Architect Agent and Board MCP address different needs.
The former operates directly in the design and maintenance of EPM applications. It supports teams in building new models, analyzing existing structures and adapting them to changes within the business.
The latter acts as a bridge between the Board environment and external AI assistants. It facilitates access to data and planning capabilities from different tools, while maintaining control and governance mechanisms.
These two initiatives reflect a broader shift in the role of EPM platforms. Beyond centralizing financial and operational data, they are gradually seeking to facilitate its use, adaptation and application in work environments enhanced by artificial intelligence.
Board Architect Agent is currently available as a preview, while Board MCP has been announced in closed beta. Their evolution and broader availability will provide a better basis for assessing their contribution to planning and performance management practices.
source: Board
