How to integrate Excel MCP with CrewAI

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Introduction

This guide walks you through connecting Excel to CrewAI using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working Excel agent that can add sales data row to q2 table, create bar chart from revenue column, share this workbook with my manager, clear outdated entries from worksheet range through natural language commands.

This guide will help you understand how to give your CrewAI agent real control over a Excel account through Composio's Excel MCP server.

Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

TL;DR

Here's what you'll learn:
  • Get a Composio API key and configure your Excel connection
  • Set up CrewAI with an MCP enabled agent
  • Create a Tool Router session or standalone MCP server for Excel
  • Build a conversational loop where your agent can execute Excel operations

What is CrewAI?

CrewAI is a powerful framework for building multi-agent AI systems. It provides primitives for defining agents with specific roles, creating tasks, and orchestrating workflows through crews.

Key features include:

  • Agent Roles: Define specialized agents with specific goals and backstories
  • Task Management: Create tasks with clear descriptions and expected outputs
  • Crew Orchestration: Combine agents and tasks into collaborative workflows
  • MCP Integration: Connect to external tools through Model Context Protocol

What is the Excel MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Excel MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Excel account. It provides structured and secure access to your spreadsheets, so your agent can perform actions like adding data, creating tables, managing worksheets, generating charts, and sharing workbooks on your behalf.

  • Automated data entry and updates: Let your agent add rows, columns, or clear specific ranges in any worksheet—keeping your data fresh, organized, and accurate.
  • Effortless table and worksheet management: Direct your agent to create tables, add new worksheets, or organize data structures for seamless tracking and reporting.
  • Dynamic chart generation: Have your agent visualize your data instantly by adding charts to any worksheet for quick insights and analysis.
  • Advanced filtering and sorting: Ask your agent to apply filters or custom sorts to tables, making it easy to focus on what matters most in your datasets.
  • Secure sharing and permission control: Empower your agent to grant access or update permissions on workbooks, ensuring your team can collaborate safely and efficiently.

Supported Tools & Triggers

Tools
Add ChartAdd a chart to a worksheet using microsoft graph api.
Add SharePoint WorksheetAdd a new worksheet to a sharepoint excel workbook using microsoft graph sites api.
Add TableCreate a table in a workbook using microsoft graph api.
Add Table ColumnAdd a column to a table using microsoft graph api.
Add Table RowAdd a row to a table using microsoft graph api.
Add Workbook PermissionTool to grant access to a workbook via invite.
Add WorksheetAdd a new worksheet to an excel workbook using microsoft graph api.
Apply Table FilterApply a filter to a table column using microsoft graph api.
Apply Table SortApply a sort to a table using microsoft graph api.
Clear RangeTool to clear values, formats, or contents in a specified worksheet range.
Clear Table FilterClear a filter from a table column using microsoft graph api.
Close Excel SessionTool to close an existing excel workbook session.
Convert Table To RangeConvert a table to a range using microsoft graph api.
Create WorkbookTool to create a new workbook file at a specified drive path.
Delete Table ColumnDelete a column from a table using microsoft graph api.
Delete Table RowDelete a row from a table using microsoft graph api.
Delete WorksheetTool to delete a worksheet from the workbook.
Get Chart AxisTool to retrieve a specific axis from a chart.
Get Chart Data LabelsTool to retrieve the data labels object of a chart.
Get Chart LegendTool to retrieve the legend object of a chart.
Get RangeGet a range from a worksheet using microsoft graph api.
Create Excel SessionCreate a session for an excel workbook using microsoft graph api.
Get SharePoint RangeGet a range from a worksheet in sharepoint using microsoft graph sites api.
Get SharePoint WorksheetGet a worksheet by name or id from a sharepoint excel workbook using microsoft graph sites api.
Get Table ColumnTool to retrieve a specific column from a workbook table.
Get workbookTool to retrieve the properties and relationships of a workbook.
Get WorksheetGet a worksheet by name or id from an excel workbook using microsoft graph api.
Insert RangeTool to insert a new cell range into a worksheet, shifting existing cells down or right.
List ChartsList charts in a worksheet using microsoft graph api.
List Chart SeriesTool to list all data series in a chart.
List CommentsTool to list comments in an excel workbook.
List Drive FilesList files and folders in a drive root or specified path.
List Named ItemsList named items in a workbook using microsoft graph api.
List SharePoint TablesList tables in a sharepoint worksheet using microsoft graph sites api.
List SharePoint WorksheetsList worksheets in an excel workbook stored in sharepoint using microsoft graph sites api.
List Table ColumnsList columns in a table using microsoft graph api.
List Table RowsList rows in a table using microsoft graph api.
List TablesList tables in a worksheet using microsoft graph api.
List Workbook PermissionsTool to list permissions set on the workbook file.
List WorksheetsList worksheets in an excel workbook using microsoft graph api.
Merge CellsMerge cells in a worksheet range using microsoft graph api.
Protect WorksheetTool to protect a worksheet using optional protection options.
Sort RangeSort a range in a worksheet using microsoft graph api.
Update ChartUpdate a chart in a worksheet using microsoft graph api.
Update Chart LegendTool to update formatting or position of a chart legend.
Update RangeUpdate a range in a worksheet using microsoft graph api.
Update SharePoint RangeUpdate a range in a sharepoint worksheet using microsoft graph sites api.
Update TableUpdate a table in a workbook using microsoft graph api.
Update WorksheetUpdate worksheet properties (name, position) in an excel workbook using microsoft graph api.

What is the Composio tool router, and how does it fit here?

What is Tool Router?

Composio's Tool Router helps agents find the right tools for a task at runtime. You can plug in multiple toolkits (like Gmail, HubSpot, and GitHub), and the agent will identify the relevant app and action to complete multi-step workflows. This can reduce token usage and improve the reliability of tool calls. Read more here: Getting started with Tool Router

The tool router generates a secure MCP URL that your agents can access to perform actions.

How the Tool Router works

The Tool Router follows a three-phase workflow:

  1. Discovery: Searches for tools matching your task and returns relevant toolkits with their details.
  2. Authentication: Checks for active connections. If missing, creates an auth config and returns a connection URL via Auth Link.
  3. Execution: Executes the action using the authenticated connection.

Step-by-step Guide

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
  • Python 3.9 or higher
  • A Composio account and API key
  • A Excel connection authorized in Composio
  • An OpenAI API key for the CrewAI LLM
  • Basic familiarity with Python

Getting API Keys for OpenAI and Composio

OpenAI API Key
  • Go to the OpenAI dashboard and create an API key. You'll need credits to use the models, or you can connect to another model provider.
  • Keep the API key safe.
Composio API Key
  • Log in to the Composio dashboard.
  • Navigate to your API settings and generate a new API key.
  • Store this key securely as you'll need it for authentication.

Install dependencies

bash
pip install composio crewai crewai-tools python-dotenv
What's happening:
  • composio connects your agent to Excel via MCP
  • crewai provides Agent, Task, Crew, and LLM primitives
  • crewai-tools includes MCP helpers
  • python-dotenv loads environment variables from .env

Set up environment variables

bash
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_composio_api_key_here
USER_ID=your_user_id_here
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

Create a .env file in your project root.

What's happening:

  • COMPOSIO_API_KEY authenticates with Composio
  • USER_ID scopes the session to your account
  • OPENAI_API_KEY lets CrewAI use your chosen OpenAI model

Import dependencies

python
from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew, LLM
from crewai_tools import MCPServerAdapter  # optional import if you plan to adapt tools
from composio import Composio
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os
from crewai.mcp import MCPServerHTTP

load_dotenv()
What's happening:
  • CrewAI classes define agents and tasks, and run the workflow
  • MCPServerHTTP connects the agent to an MCP endpoint
  • Composio will give you a short lived Excel MCP URL

Create a Composio Tool Router session for Excel

python
composio = Composio(api_key=os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY"))
session = composio.create(
    user_id=os.getenv("USER_ID"),
    toolkits=["excel"],
)
url = session.mcp.url
What's happening:
  • You create a Excel only session through Composio
  • Composio returns an MCP HTTP URL that exposes Excel tools

Configure the LLM

python
llm = LLM(
    model="gpt-5-mini",
    api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
)
What's happening:
  • CrewAI will call this LLM for planning and responses
  • You can swap in a different model if needed

Attach the MCP server and create the agent

python
toolkit_agent = Agent(
    role="Excel Assistant",
    goal="Help users interact with Excel through natural language commands",
    backstory=(
        "You are an expert assistant with access to Excel tools. "
        "You can perform various Excel operations on behalf of the user."
    ),
    mcps=[
        MCPServerHTTP(
            url=url,
            streamable=True,
            cache_tools_list=True,
            headers={"x-api-key": os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")},
        ),
    ],
    llm=llm,
    verbose=True,
    max_iter=10,
)
What's happening:
  • MCPServerHTTP connects the agent to the Excel MCP endpoint
  • cache_tools_list saves a tools catalog for faster subsequent runs
  • verbose helps you see what the agent is doing

Add a REPL loop with Task and Crew

python
print("Chat started! Type 'exit' or 'quit' to end.\n")
print("Try asking the agent to perform Excel operations.\n")

conversation_context = ""

while True:
    user_input = input("You: ").strip()

    if user_input.lower() in ["exit", "quit", "bye"]:
        print("\nGoodbye!")
        break

    if not user_input:
        continue

    conversation_context += f"\nUser: {user_input}\n"
    print("\nAgent is thinking...\n")

    task = Task(
        description=(
            f"Based on the conversation history:\n{conversation_context}\n\n"
            f"Current user request: {user_input}\n\n"
            f"Please help the user with their Excel related request."
        ),
        expected_output="A helpful response addressing the user's request",
        agent=toolkit_agent,
    )

    crew = Crew(
        agents=[toolkit_agent],
        tasks=[task],
        verbose=False,
    )

    result = crew.kickoff()
    response = str(result)

    conversation_context += f"Agent: {response}\n"
    print(f"Agent: {response}\n")
What's happening:
  • You build a simple chat loop and keep a running context
  • Each user turn becomes a Task handled by the same agent
  • Crew executes the task and returns a response

Run the application

python
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()
What's happening:
  • Standard Python entry point so you can run python crewai_excel_agent.py

Complete Code

Here's the complete code to get you started with Excel and CrewAI:

python
# file: crewai_excel_agent.py
from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew, LLM
from crewai_tools import MCPServerAdapter  # optional
from composio import Composio
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os
from crewai.mcp import MCPServerHTTP

load_dotenv()

def main():
    # Initialize Composio and create a Excel session
    composio = Composio(api_key=os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY"))
    session = composio.create(
        user_id=os.getenv("USER_ID"),
        toolkits=["excel"],
    )
    url = session.mcp.url

    # Configure LLM
    llm = LLM(
        model="gpt-5-mini",
        api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
    )

    # Create Excel assistant agent
    toolkit_agent = Agent(
        role="Excel Assistant",
        goal="Help users interact with Excel through natural language commands",
        backstory=(
            "You are an expert assistant with access to Excel tools. "
            "You can perform various Excel operations on behalf of the user."
        ),
        mcps=[
            MCPServerHTTP(
                url=url,
                streamable=True,
                cache_tools_list=True,
                headers={"x-api-key": os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")},
            ),
        ],
        llm=llm,
        verbose=True,
        max_iter=10,
    )

    print("Chat started! Type 'exit' or 'quit' to end the conversation.\n")
    print("Try asking the agent to perform Excel operations.\n")

    conversation_context = ""

    while True:
        user_input = input("You: ").strip()

        if user_input.lower() in ["exit", "quit", "bye"]:
            print("\nGoodbye!")
            break

        if not user_input:
            continue

        conversation_context += f"\nUser: {user_input}\n"
        print("\nAgent is thinking...\n")

        task = Task(
            description=(
                f"Based on the conversation history:\n{conversation_context}\n\n"
                f"Current user request: {user_input}\n\n"
                f"Please help the user with their Excel related request."
            ),
            expected_output="A helpful response addressing the user's request",
            agent=toolkit_agent,
        )

        crew = Crew(
            agents=[toolkit_agent],
            tasks=[task],
            verbose=False,
        )

        result = crew.kickoff()
        response = str(result)

        conversation_context += f"Agent: {response}\n"
        print(f"Agent: {response}\n")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Conclusion

You now have a CrewAI agent connected to Excel through Composio's Tool Router. The agent can perform Excel operations through natural language commands. Next steps:
  • Add role-specific instructions to customize agent behavior
  • Plug in more toolkits for multi-app workflows
  • Chain tasks for complex multi-step operations

How to build Excel MCP Agent with another framework

OpenAI Agents SDK

OpenAI Agents SDK

Use Excel MCP with OpenAI Agents SDK

Claude Agent SDK

Claude Agent SDK

Use Excel MCP with Claude Agent SDK

Google ADK

Google ADK

Use Excel MCP with Google ADK

LangChain

LangChain

Use Excel MCP with LangChain

Vercel AI SDK

Vercel AI SDK

Use Excel MCP with Vercel AI SDK

Mastra AI

Mastra AI

Use Excel MCP with Mastra AI

LlamaIndex

LlamaIndex

Use Excel MCP with LlamaIndex

FAQ

What are the differences in Tool Router MCP and Excel MCP?

With a standalone Excel MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of Excel tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from Excel and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

Can I use Tool Router MCP with CrewAI?

Yes, you can. CrewAI fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right Excel tools.

Can I manage the permissions and scopes for Excel while using Tool Router?

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which Excel scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

How safe is my data with Composio Tool Router?

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Excel data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

Used by agents from

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