Connect Microsoft Copilot to Backstory to ask natural language questions and get AI-powered answers about your accounts, deals, and opportunities using real-time data from Backstory. MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets Copilot securely access your Backstory data during conversations, so you can ask questions and get answers without leaving Microsoft 365.
To connect Microsoft Copilot to Backstory, you will need a Microsoft Copilot Studio Enterprise subscription and an active Backstory account with appropriate permissions.
What You Can Do
Stay in your Microsoft workflow by accessing sales intelligence without leaving Microsoft 365 applications
Get instant answers about accounts, opportunities, and customer activity from Copilot
Access AI-powered insights including deal risks, relationship intelligence, and recommended next steps
Maintain enterprise security with OAuth 2.0 authentication and Microsoft's enterprise-grade standards
Enable your sales team to work more efficiently with sales data accessible through natural language
How to Configure the Backstory MCP Tool
An administrator must complete this one-time setup before anyone else in the organization can connect to Copilot. Once done, Backstory will be accessible to all users in your Copilot Studio organization.
Log into Microsoft Copilot Studio.
Create a new MCP tool or navigate to your MCP tools section.
Configure the tool with these details:
Tool Type: MCP (Model Context Protocol)
Server Name: peopleaimcp
Server URL: https://mcp.people.ai/mcp/
Description: Access Backstory sales intelligence including account data, opportunity analysis, communication history, and AI-powered insights
Select OAuth 2.0 as the authentication method.
Select Dynamic discovery as the type.
Click Create to save the tool configuration.
How to Connect Microsoft Copilot to Backstory
Once connected, Copilot will have secure access to your Backstory sales data.
Create a new connection for the Backstory MCP tool.
The OAuth flow will redirect you to the Backstory authorization page.
Log in with your Backstory credentials and click Authorize.
You'll be redirected back to Copilot Studio with an active connection.
Verify the connection shows as active and that Backstory MCP tools are available in your Copilot.
How to Test Your Connection
Try asking Copilot about a familiar account and explore different question types like:
"Find information about [Company Name]"
"What are the recent activities for [Account Name]?"
"Show me open opportunities for [Account Name]"
"What are the risks for [Opportunity Name]?"
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I find MCP settings in Copilot Studio?
MCP integration requires a Microsoft Copilot Studio Enterprise subscription. If you have the right subscription but still don't see the option, verify that your administrator has completed the MCP tool configuration using the admin setup steps above.
OAuth authorization keeps failing. What should I do?
First, verify that the Server URL in your Copilot Studio configuration is exactly https://mcp.people.ai/mcp/ (including the trailing slash). Microsoft Copilot uses OAuth with dynamic discovery, so Client ID, Client Secret, and token endpoint configuration are handled automatically. If issues persist, contact support@backstory.ai to confirm your Redirect URL is properly registered.
Copilot isn't using the Backstory tool. Why?
Make sure your tool description in Copilot Studio includes key phrases like "account information," "sales data," "opportunities," and "CRM intelligence"—this helps Copilot decide when to use the tool. Also verify the connection is active and hasn't expired. Try asking more explicit questions that clearly relate to sales or CRM data.
Copilot says it can't find my account data. Why?
This usually means the account name is misspelled, the account doesn't exist in your Backstory instance, or you don't have permission to view that account. Try searching with a different account name you know exists, or check with your Backstory administrator about your data access permissions.
Is my data secure when using this integration?
Yes. Your Backstory data never leaves the secure Backstory environment. Copilot only sends queries, not your actual data. The integration respects your existing Backstory permissions, so you can only access accounts and data you already have permission to view. All communication uses HTTPS/TLS encryption, and OAuth tokens expire periodically requiring re-authentication.
Can I disconnect the integration later?
Yes. Go to Copilot Studio, find the Backstory MCP connection, and remove it. Your Backstory data remains secure and unchanged. You can reconnect at any time by following the setup steps again.
What kind of questions can I ask Copilot about my accounts?
You can ask about account information, recent emails and meetings, open opportunities, deal risks, next steps, and get AI-powered insights. Natural language works best—for example: "Show me high-risk opportunities closing this quarter." The integration includes eight tools for searching accounts, analyzing opportunities, viewing communications, and getting AI insights.
How often do I need to re-authenticate?
OAuth tokens expire periodically for security. When this happens, Copilot will prompt you to log in again. Just click through the authentication flow like you did during initial setup. Most users need to re-authenticate every few weeks to maintain secure access.
Need Help?
Reach out to your CSM or email support@backstory.ai. For Microsoft Copilot Studio questions, consult Microsoft Support.