Document & File Management · Affinda + Claude
Affinda MCP with Claude: Automate Document Data Extraction and Workflows
The short answer
Claude works with Affinda through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a secure standard that lets Claude use the tool with permissions you control. Once connected, Claude can ask Affinda to extract key data from documents, parse resumes and process invoices, then use the structured results in your wider workflow.
What is Affinda?
Affinda is an AI-powered document processing platform. It reads files such as resumes, invoices and other business documents and turns them into structured, usable data. Recruitment teams, finance and accounts payable teams, and operations staff who handle large volumes of paperwork typically use it to cut manual data entry and speed up document-heavy processes.
How Claude connects to Affinda through MCP
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that works like a universal adapter between Claude and other software. It lets Claude securely use a tool, reading information and taking actions, within permissions your organisation sets. Affinda offers an MCP server and a direct API, and access is set up using an API key.
Once connected, Claude can work with Affinda in plain language. For example, a recruiter might ask Claude to parse a batch of resumes and summarise the skills and experience of each candidate, or a finance user might ask it to pull the supplier, invoice number, dates and totals from a set of invoices. Claude can then pass the structured results to your other systems.
Permissions and approvals keep people in charge. Access is limited to the minimum the workflow needs, and actions with real consequences, such as sending extracted data onward or updating records, can require a person to approve them first. Audit logs record what Claude did, so your team can review it at any time.
What you can automate
Resume screening for recruitment teams
Claude asks Affinda to parse incoming resumes and returns structured fields such as name, contact details, skills, qualifications and work history. Recruiters can then search and compare candidates in plain language, saving time on manual reading and data entry before interviews are scheduled.
Invoice data capture for accounts payable
When supplier invoices arrive, Claude can request extraction of supplier name, invoice number, dates, line items and totals. The structured data can be checked against purchase orders and passed to the accounting system, reducing keying errors and speeding up payment runs.
Document intake for operations teams
Operations staff often receive forms, certificates and delivery paperwork in many formats. Claude can use Affinda to extract the key fields from each document and file the results against the correct record, so teams spend less time sorting and retyping information.
Compliance and records checks
Claude can extract expiry dates, reference numbers and signatures from documents such as certificates or contracts and flag items that need attention. A named staff member reviews flagged items before any action is taken, which helps teams keep records current.
Natural language document queries
Staff who are not technical can ask questions such as how many invoices from a supplier were received last month or which candidates list a specific certification. Claude answers using the data Affinda has extracted, so teams get answers without building reports by hand.
An end-to-end workflow: Invoice-to-payment intake
TriggerA supplier invoice is received in the shared finance mailbox or uploaded to the document folder.
Claude requests Affinda to extract supplier name, invoice number, dates, line items and totals from the invoice.
Claude matches the extracted supplier and purchase order details against records in the ERP system.
Claude flags any mismatches in amount, duplicate invoice numbers or missing fields for review.
A finance team member approves matched invoices with one click, and Claude posts them to the ERP as draft entries.
Claude writes a summary note to the ticketing system so the approver can track exceptions.
OutcomeTypical outcomes include faster invoice processing, fewer manual keying errors and a clear audit trail. Actual results depend on invoice volumes and the quality of your existing records.
How we set it up
Free automation audit
We review your document flows, volumes and the systems they touch, such as your CRM, ERP or Microsoft 365, and identify the workflows worth automating with Affinda and Claude.
Secure connection with an API key
We set up Affinda access using an API key, stored in a secure secrets manager and never shared in plain text. Access is scoped to the minimum permissions each workflow requires.
Workflow design and approvals
We design the end-to-end workflow across Affinda and your other systems, defining which actions Claude may take alone and which need a person to approve.
Testing and launch with monitoring
We test the workflow against real past documents, check extraction accuracy, and launch with monitoring and audit logs in place.
Team training and handover
We train your team on how to use Claude with Affinda in everyday work, provide written guidance, and agree how the workflow will be reviewed over time.
Who benefits
- Head of Recruitment
- Faster resume processing and easier comparison of candidates, with structured data ready for the hiring team.
- Finance Controller
- Less manual invoice entry, fewer keying errors and a clear approval trail for accounts payable.
- Operations Manager
- Documents are sorted and filed consistently, reducing backlogs and the time spent retyping information.
- IT Director
- A governed connection with scoped access, managed keys, monitoring and audit logs that fit existing security policies.
Security and control
- Access uses an API key stored in a secure secrets manager and rotated on a schedule.
- Permissions are limited to the minimum each workflow needs.
- People approve consequential actions, such as posting records or sending data onward.
- Audit logs record what Claude requested and what changed, for review at any time.
- Workflows are tested on real documents before launch and monitored afterwards.
For teams in the US, UK, India and the Middle East
Organisations in the United States and the United Kingdom can host the Claude workflow in a region that meets their data residency and privacy requirements. Indian organisations are supported under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and in the UAE and Saudi Arabia we align designs with local data protection laws. We choose the hosting region for each project to meet your specific legal and contractual requirements, and we do not offer guarantees of compliance without a formal review of your obligations.
Learn more about Claude and MCP
Anthropic's AI model and assistant.
Secure links between Claude and business tools.
How engineers build and change software with Claude.
Hosted agents that run multi-step work.
The open standard Claude uses to connect to tools.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Affinda MCP server do?
The Affinda MCP server gives Claude a secure way to use Affinda's document processing. Through it, Claude can ask Affinda to extract data from documents, parse resumes and process invoices, and return structured results. Access follows the permissions you configure, so Claude only does what the workflow allows.
Is connecting Affinda to Claude secure?
Security depends on the setup, and we design it carefully. Connections use an API key stored in a secure secrets manager, access is limited to the minimum needed, consequential actions can require human approval, and audit logs record activity. We test and review the setup before launch.
What can Claude do with Affinda once connected?
Typically Claude can request data extraction from resumes, invoices and other documents, read the structured results, and answer questions about them in plain language. It can also pass results to other systems in your workflow, with approvals where you require them.
How long does setup take?
Timelines vary with the number of document types, the systems involved and how many approval steps are needed. A simple single-workflow setup can often be launched in a few weeks, while a larger multi-system project takes longer. We confirm a realistic timeline during the free automation audit.
What permissions or access do I need?
You need an Affinda account with an API key that your organisation is permitted to use. We recommend creating a key with the narrowest permissions the workflow needs. We can confirm the exact requirements for your Affinda setup during the audit, since they depend on how your account is configured.