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Tools let an agent look up information and take actions during a call. You define each tool once on a workspace page. Then you enable it for the inbound agents and campaigns that need it.
Agents can only use tools you enable for them. Connection secrets are stored encrypted and are never shown to the agent or the caller.

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Add a Business API

A Business API is an HTTPS endpoint in your own system. The editor has four steps: Basics, Connection, What the agent sends, and Test.
1

Open the editor

In the sidebar, click Tools & APIs, choose Business APIs, and click Add Business API.
2

Basics

Enter a Display name, for example “Check order status”. Under What does this API do?, choose Looks up information or Makes a change. In When should the agent use it?, describe the caller request that should trigger it. Under More details, you can add what the agent must establish first.
3

Connection

Choose the Request type (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE) and enter the HTTPS endpoint. Under Sign-in, choose None, Bearer token, or API key, and enter the credential.
4

What the agent sends

Click Add a field for each detail the agent collects from the caller. Set the Field name, What it is, an Example value, and whether it is Required. To ask the caller before each request, turn on Ask the caller to confirm first.
5

Test

Enter test values and click Send test request. The result shows Passed, Failed, or Unknown result, with the HTTP status and a response preview.
6

Save

Click Add Business API.
The Add Business API dialog on step 4 Test, showing a Passed result for a fake order lookup endpoint.
For an API that Makes a change, the test sends a real request. Use test data your system recognizes.

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Add an MCP connector

MCP connectors bring in tools from a hosted MCP server over HTTPS. Use them to reach services such as calendars, CRMs, or automation platforms.
1

Open the dialog

In Tools & APIs, choose MCP connectors and click Add connector.
2

Enter the connection

Enter a Name and the HTTPS URL. Under Authentication, choose None, Bearer token, or API key header, and enter the Token or API key.
3

Connect

Click Connect and discover. TalkChief lists every tool the server offers.
4

Review each tool

Click Edit definition on a tool. Write When to use this tool, set Execution behavior to a lookup or an action, and choose the caller confirmation. Click Save definition.
Every discovered tool is on by default. Turn off any tool agents must never use. A tool marked Needs classification on Tools & APIs cannot be enabled until you set its Execution behavior.
TalkChief supports hosted HTTPS servers using Streamable HTTP or legacy SSE. Local servers are not supported.

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Connect workspace email

Each workspace has one email sender.
1

Add the sender

In the sidebar, click Email, then Add email connection. Enter the Display name, Mail server, Port, Connection security, Username, From email, and App password.
2

Describe when to use it

Under Agent usage guidance, fill in When may an assigned agent use this?.
3

Verify sending

Save the connection. Under Verify sending, enter an address you control and click Send test email.
Agents can only use email after a test email succeeds.

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Choose caller confirmation

Every Business API, MCP tool, and email connection has a Caller confirmation setting. Business APIs default to Run without asking.
Choose Confirm first for tools that change data or send email, such as booking, canceling, or updating a record.

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Enable tools for an agent

Open the agent and go to Skills & tools. The section has these tabs: MCP tools, Business APIs & email, Transfers, and Call controls.
  • MCP tools: turn on the switch for each tool the agent may use.
  • Business APIs & email: click Assign to agent. Under Optional agent-specific guidance, you can narrow when this agent uses it.
  • Call controls: turn on Allow the agent to end the call, Allow keypad tones, or Record do-not-call requests.
Tool assignments save immediately. Spoken progress updates and call controls need Save changes.
The agent's Skills & tools section with the Voice actions meter, the tab row, and the MCP tools list with two tools enabled.

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Spoken progress updates

Turn on Spoken progress updates to have the agent say a short line, such as “Just a moment”, before it runs a tool. It needs a primary language, so it is unavailable with Auto-detect. For campaigns, you add tools in the campaign’s Knowledge & actions section. See Outbound campaigns.

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Voice actions limit

Each agent and each campaign can use up to 25 voice actions. The Voice actions meter shows how many slots are in use.
  • Transfers reserve one slot. All transfer destinations share it.
  • Email reserves one slot. All email connections share it.
  • Knowledge search uses one slot.
  • Each Business API uses one slot.
  • Each connected MCP tool uses one slot.
When the limit is reached, TalkChief rejects any change that would go over it. To free a slot, disable a tool or remove it from the agent.

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Troubleshooting

The agent already uses 25 voice actions. Open Skills & tools, review the Voice actions meter, then switch off or remove a tool you do not need. Try again.
Send a test email from the Email page. Agents cannot use a sender until a test email succeeds.
Check the URL and credential, then click Refresh tools. The connector must be reachable over public HTTPS.
Yes, through an MCP connector from a calendar or automation provider. Add it in Tools & APIs, then enable its tools for the agent.

Transfers

Hand callers to the right person.

Knowledge base

Give the agent approved documents.