New Improved
about 1 month ago

Smarter, Faster, Leaner: OttoKit Gets MCP Server, New Layout & WordPress Controls

We’ve packed this release with thoughtful improvements that make OttoKit cleaner, smarter, and more user-friendly than ever. From streamlined help text in forms and an AI-focused dashboard to granular WordPress access controls and clearer error handling — every enhancement is designed to reduce friction and boost your productivity.
This release also marks the launch of OttoKit MCP — your AI’s new gateway to 1,000+ external apps. Easily trigger actions using Claude, Cursor, or OpenAI Desktop in under 1 minute — no code required.
You’ll also notice:
  • A sleek new horizontal workflow builder for easier navigation
  • An upgraded app selection UI that’s faster and more intuitive
  • Smarter dynamic forms that surface only what’s needed upfront
Whether you're building powerful workflows with AI or managing access across teams, OttoKit’s July update gives you faster setups, cleaner designs, and greater control at every step.

MCP Server – Bridge between AI Tools and External Apps

What is MCP?


MCP is a standard protocol. It equips your AI with a list of apps and actions that you choose—such as sending a direct message in Slack or drafting an email in Gmail—and allows it to call those tools whenever needed.

Key features of OttoKit MCP include:

  • Nearly 1,000 app connections: Connect your AI to thousands of apps in our library without needing to build or maintain the integrations yourself.
  • Code-free setup: No technical knowledge required. Easily connect OttoKit MCP to Claude, Cursor, and OpenAI Desktop within minutes—no coding needed. You can then perform actions using simple, natural language.
  • AI suggestions: Skip manually entering all field details. OttoKit’s AI can suggest values for fields to help speed up the action setup process.
  • On/off toggles: Temporarily disable an action in your MCP page without deleting it. This allows you to keep all the pre-configured settings and enable it again later.
  • Built-in security: OttoKit MCP endpoints include secure authentication, encryption, and rate limiting to ensure protection against abuse.

Real-World Use Cases:

Here are a few examples of what your AI can do with OttoKit MCP:

  • Find, add, or update specific rows inside your Google Sheets.
  • Manage a BuddyBoss community by instructing AI to write and send messages reminding members about upcoming events.
  • Create a calendar event and have your AI send an email invitation with the meeting details.

New Builder Layout– Horizontal Layout + Flyout Enhancements


New Layout: Horizontal View


Vertical layouts become harder to navigate with:

  • Long Workflows
  • Parallel branches

The new horizontal layout solves this by:

  • Leveraging wide screens
  • Making it easier to track logic across stages
  • Reducing scroll fatigue

You can toggle between vertical and horizontal layouts based on your preference, workflow type, or device.

Updated Flyout UI for Apps



We’ve redesigned the app selection flyout to:
Group apps into tabs:

  • All Apps – Full library
  • Premium Apps – Core apps with advanced features
  • Connected Apps – Apps already connected with your account

Improve speed: App filtering and search are now faster and more responsive.
This gives a more intuitive overview and reduces friction when adding actions or triggers

Dynamic Forms – Required Fields First, Optional Fields Collapsed



App actions often come with 10–30+ fields. Most of them are optional, but users used to see all of them at once, leading to:

  • Information overload
  • Long scrolls to find what’s actually needed
  • Confusion on what is must-fill

With this release:
  • Only mandatory fields are shown upfront
  • An expander toggle called “Show Optional Fields” is placed on the flyout after the mandatory fields
  • Clicking it reveals the rest — only when you want it

This change makes workflow configuration:
  • Faster
  • Less overwhelming
  • More user-friendly

Streamlined Help Text in Forms



Before:
  • Help text appeared under many fields
  • This made flyouts unnecessarily long and visually noisy

Now:
  • Fields that have help text show a dotted underline on the label
  • Clicking the label opens a tooltip with helpful information

Benefits:
  • Cleaner and more minimal interface
  • Help is still there — just when and where you need it
  • Easier to scan and fill out forms quickly

Improved Dashboard Experience



We’ve cleaned up the dashboard to put the spotlight on AI-first automation.

What Changed:
  • Removed clutter – Less-used stats and widgets have been removed
  • Added AI Workflow Builder – Right at the top, to encourage AI-assisted workflow creation
  • Improved navigation – Focused UI for getting started fast

This makes the dashboard more focused, especially for users looking to:
  • Build flows via AI
  • Explore recipe ideas
  • Get started without clicking around

New WordPress Settings – Granular Access Control


Why This Matters
OttoKit is embedded into your WordPress admin via iframe. But until now, everyone with admin access could see and use it.
With the new OttoKit Settings under WordPress Settings, you can:

  • Grant or restrict access to the OttoKit interface
  • Choose who sees it based on:
    – User roles (e.g., Editors, Authors, Contributors
    – Individual users

Examples:
  • You’re an agency managing a client site — and you want only the Editor to see OttoKit.
  • You run a membership site where staff shouldn’t access automation tools.

Details:
  • Admins always have full access (no configuration needed)
  • Others must be granted access through this new settings screen

This gives you better control and security, especially for multi-user environments or client-facing implementations.

Fixes, Improvements & New App Endpoints


Fixes

WordPress Connection Issue Due to Permalink Structure Changes
We’ve fixed the issue where OttoKit would break if the permalink structure was changed.

  • Existing Connection: If a user has an active connection and later changes the permalink structure to “Plain”, a warning message is now shown on the OttoKit Dashboard.
  • Initial Setup: If a user already has the “Plain” permalink structure during setup, the same warning appears on the “Get Started” screen.

WP Connection Limit Error Message
Previously, the error message when hitting the WordPress connection limit always mentioned the Free Plan, regardless of the user’s actual plan.
Now, the message reflects the user’s current plan, making it more accurate and less confusing.
Improvements
  • Array Handling in Action Responses
    In the action response, arrays are now displayed as proper arrays (instead of a flattened format), improving readability and structure for developers and end users.
  • Warning Icon for Incomplete Actions
    If any action in your workflow is incomplete (e.g., missing required mappings or misconfigured), a warning icon now appears below the action. This helps users identify configuration issues before running or publishing workflows.

That’s a Wrap!


That’s a wrap on this release! From AI-powered MCP integrations to a redesigned horizontal workflow builder and smarter, streamlined forms, this update is all about speed, control, and clarity.
We’ve focused on refinement and usability — simplifying form interactions, decluttering the dashboard, improving WordPress access control, and giving developers better feedback. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling complex workflows, OttoKit is now smoother, smarter, and more secure than ever.
As always, we’re excited to see what you build next — and remember, this is just the beginning.
Let’s automate bigger, better, and faster — together.