Document & File Management · Pdf co + Claude
PDF.co MCP with Claude: Automate Document Extraction, Merging and Form Filling
The short answer
Claude works with PDF.co through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a secure standard that lets Claude use the tool with permissions you control. Once connected, Claude can extract text, merge documents, fill forms, split files and read barcodes from plain-English instructions, while your team approves important actions.
What is Pdf co?
PDF.co is a secure API platform for working with PDF files. It can extract text, generate new documents, edit existing files, merge and split documents, fill forms and process barcodes. Operations, finance, legal, HR and back-office teams use it to handle large volumes of documents without manual copying. Developers and automation teams also use it to build document workflows that run reliably at scale.
How Claude connects to Pdf co through MCP
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets Claude securely use other software. Think of it as a universal adapter between Claude and a tool. It lets Claude read information and take actions, and the organisation decides exactly what it is allowed to do.
Once PDF.co is connected, Claude can work with your documents using everyday language. For example, it can pull the text from an invoice, merge a set of contracts into one file, fill in a standard form with supplied details, split a long scanned bundle into separate documents, or read barcodes that identify each page.
Permissions and approvals keep your people in charge. Access is limited to the operations you choose, and PDF.co is connected using your API key. Consequential actions, such as overwriting a signed document or sending a file onward, can require a person to approve them first. Every action can be logged for audit.
What you can automate
Invoice data extraction for accounts payable
Finance teams receive hundreds of supplier invoices as PDFs. Claude can ask PDF.co to extract the supplier name, invoice number, dates, line items and totals, then pass the results to your accounting system for checking. Staff review exceptions rather than retyping every figure, which typically shortens processing time and reduces keying errors.
Contract bundling for legal teams
Legal teams often assemble agreements from several source files, such as a master contract, schedules and amendments. Claude can merge these into a single ordered PDF on request, add page numbers, and split out the final version for signature. A lawyer approves the final bundle before it is shared externally.
Automated form filling for HR and onboarding
New starters complete the same forms again and again. Claude can take details from an HR record and fill the relevant PDF forms, such as tax or benefits declarations. Staff check the completed forms before they are issued, so personal data is only used where the process allows it.
Scanned document splitting for operations
Scanned batches often arrive as one long file containing many documents. Claude can ask PDF.co to split the file at logical breaks and name each part, for example by reference number. This helps operations teams file records faster and find them later.
Barcode processing for warehouses and logistics
Delivery notes and shipping labels frequently carry barcodes. Claude can ask PDF.co to read barcodes from scanned pages and match them to orders in your system. Discrepancies are flagged for a supervisor, which can reduce manual searching during busy periods.
An end-to-end workflow: Supplier invoice to ERP posting
TriggerA new supplier invoice PDF arrives in the shared accounts-payable mailbox.
Claude receives the invoice and asks PDF.co to extract the key fields and line items.
Claude checks the supplier and purchase order number against the ERP record.
Matching invoices are prepared as draft postings in the ERP, with the source PDF attached.
Invoices with mismatched totals or missing purchase orders are routed to an accounts officer with a short summary.
An accountant approves each draft before it is posted, and every step is written to the audit log.
OutcomeRoutine invoices are processed faster, exceptions reach the right person quickly, and the finance team spends more time on review and less on data entry.
How we set it up
Free automation audit
We review how your team currently handles PDFs, identify the workflows with the most manual effort, and agree which ones to automate first. There is no charge for this session.
Connect PDF.co securely
We connect Claude to PDF.co using your API key, stored in a secure secrets manager. Access is set to least privilege, so Claude can only use the operations each workflow needs.
Design the end-to-end workflow
We map the process across PDF.co and your other systems, such as Microsoft 365, your CRM, ERP or ticketing tool. We define where people approve consequential actions.
Test against real cases
We run the workflow on past documents, compare results with the outcomes your team already reached, and refine extraction rules and exception handling until accuracy meets your agreed standard.
Launch, monitor and train
We launch with monitoring and audit logs, watch early performance closely, and train your team on how to review flagged items and manage the workflow day to day.
Who benefits
- Finance and accounts payable manager
- Less manual keying of invoice data and faster routing of exceptions for review.
- Legal operations lead
- Quicker assembly of contract bundles with consistent page ordering and clear approval steps.
- HR manager
- Consistent completion of onboarding forms with personal data handled under defined rules.
- Operations or IT director
- A scalable document workflow with access controls, logs and clear ownership.
Security and control
- Least-privilege access, so Claude can only perform the PDF.co operations each workflow requires.
- Human approval for consequential actions such as posting records, overwriting files or sending documents externally.
- Secure storage of your PDF.co API key using a managed secrets store, never in shared documents or chat.
- Audit logs of every action Claude takes, supporting review and internal governance.
- Regular testing and monitoring after launch, with clear procedures for handling errors and flagged items.
For teams in the US, UK, India and the Middle East
Organisations in the United States, the United Kingdom, India and the Middle East each have different rules for handling personal data in documents. We design each workflow to meet the relevant requirements, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 in India and the data protection laws of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Claude can be hosted in India, the United States, the United Kingdom or the European Union, and we choose the hosting region to suit your legal and contractual obligations. We recommend confirming final requirements with your own legal or compliance adviser.
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 PDF.co MCP server do?
The PDF.co MCP server acts as a secure bridge between Claude and PDF.co. It lets Claude carry out document tasks, such as extracting text, merging files, splitting documents, filling forms and reading barcodes, when you ask for them in plain language. It does not give Claude open-ended access, because each connection is limited to the operations you permit.
Is connecting PDF.co to Claude secure?
Security depends on how the connection is set up. We store your API key in a managed secrets store, apply least-privilege access, require human approval for important actions and keep audit logs. Your documents remain under your control, and hosting can be placed in the region your policies require.
What can Claude do with PDF.co once connected?
Typically, Claude can extract text and structured data from PDFs, merge several files into one, split a large file into parts, fill in form fields from supplied data, and read barcodes. It can also help generate and edit documents. The exact set of actions is defined during design so that it matches your workflow.
How long does setup take?
Timelines vary with the number of workflows and the complexity of your documents. A simple, single workflow often moves from audit to launch in a few weeks, while multi-system projects take longer. We confirm a realistic timeline during the free automation audit.
Which PDF.co plan or permissions do I need?
You need a PDF.co account with an API key that allows the operations your workflow uses. In general, the key should have only the permissions required for the agreed tasks. During the audit we check your current setup and advise whether any changes to your account or permissions are needed.