Claude for Small Business + RingCentral¶
Install the RingCentral plugin, connect your phone and Team Chat, add Claude for Small Business, and link your CRM. Every step, in order. ~15 minute setup.
Before you start¶
You'll need:
- Claude Desktop app, signed in to your Claude account
- RingCentral RingEX account, you'll sign in during setup
- Optional: a CRM account (HubSpot, monday.com, Salesforce, or Zoho CRM)
- Optional: an email connector, so Claude can send follow-up emails
Part 1: Install the RingCentral plugin¶
Step 1 — Open Customize¶
In Claude Desktop, open Customize. You'll see three tabs: Skills, Connectors, and Plugins.
Step 2 — Search the directory¶
Select Discover, then enter ringcentral in the search box.
Step 3 — Add the official RingCentral plugin¶
Find RingCentral labeled from Anthropic Directory. Its description reads: "Work with your RingCentral phone and Team Chat (Glip) account from Claude."
Click Add.
Pick the right listing
Look for the from Anthropic Directory label under the plugin name. That's the official RingCentral plugin.
Step 4 — Confirm the plugin is on¶
The plugin page opens. Check three things:
- The header reads RingCentral, from Anthropic Directory, 16 skills
- The toggle at the top right is blue (on)
- You see four tabs: Overview, Contents, Skills · 16, Connectors · 2
Part 2: Explore what's inside¶
Each tab on the plugin page tells you something different:
| Tab | What you'll find |
|---|---|
| Overview | Description, categories, and the connectors and tools the plugin uses |
| Contents | Every file that ships with the plugin |
| Skills · 16 | Ready-made workflows for calls, SMS, voicemail, fax, and Team Chat |
| Connectors · 2 | The two RingCentral connections: RingEX Phone and RingCentral Chat |
Two ways to use a skill¶
The Skills tab says it plainly: "Invoke by typing / in chat, or let Claude use them automatically for relevant tasks."
- Type a slash command, like
`/voicemail-inbox`, to run a skill directly - Ask in plain words, like "Did anyone leave me a voicemail?", and Claude picks the right skill
All 16 RingCentral skills¶
| Skill | Uses | What it does |
|---|---|---|
/colleague-lookup |
RingEX Phone | Find a colleague by name, department, title, or number |
/call-recap |
RingEX Phone | Recap a call with AI notes, transcript, and recording status |
/call-followup-email |
RingEX Phone | Turn a recent call into a ready-to-send follow-up email |
/daily-communications-digest |
RingEX Phone | Turn calls, SMS, and voicemail into a prioritized to-do report |
/send-sms |
RingEX Phone | Text one person from a RingEX number you own, with confirmation |
/sms-inbox |
RingEX Phone | Browse recent SMS and MMS conversations |
/voicemail-inbox |
RingEX Phone | Check voicemail with caller, time, and transcript |
/fax-inbox |
RingEX Phone | Browse recent faxes with sender, time, and cover-page text |
/post-to-chat |
RingCentral Chat | Send a Team Chat post to a person or channel, with confirmation |
/read-team-chat |
RingCentral Chat | Catch up on a chat or channel |
/manage-tasks |
RingCentral Chat | Create, assign, update, and complete Team Chat tasks |
/manage-notes |
RingCentral Chat | Create, edit, publish, and lock Team Chat notes |
/manage-events |
RingCentral Chat | Schedule, change, or cancel Team Chat events |
/manage-teams |
RingCentral Chat | Create teams and manage members |
/manage-webhooks |
RingCentral Chat | Set up incoming webhooks that post into a channel |
/manage-adaptive-cards |
RingCentral Chat | Post status, link, and approval cards |
Skills are plain text you can read
Every skill is a human-readable SKILL.md file. Browse the full library at developers.ringcentral.com/mcp/skills. Each page shows the skill ID, the server it uses, the full instructions, and a Download SKILL.md button.
Part 3: Connect RingEX Phone and Team Chat¶
The plugin needs two connections before it can see your calls and chats. You'll connect each one once.
Step 5 — Open the Connectors tab¶
On the RingCentral plugin page, select Connectors · 2. You'll see phone and RingCentral Chat, both marked Not added.
Step 6 — Connect RingEX Phone¶
Click Connect next to phone. Your browser opens a page titled Finish connecting a connector?
Click Continue connecting.
Only continue if you started it
This page appears because you clicked Connect in Claude Desktop. If you ever see it without starting a connection, click Not now. A link on its own can never connect anything to your account.
Step 7 — Sign in and click Authorize¶
Sign in to RingCentral if asked. An Access Request page opens: "MCP_Phone is requesting access to RingCentral."
Review the list, then click Authorize.
Step 8 — Repeat for RingCentral Chat¶
Back in Claude, click Connect next to RingCentral Chat. Click Continue connecting.
On the page that reads "MCP_TeamChat is requesting access to RingCentral," click Authorize.
What you're allowing¶
| Connector | Claude can |
|---|---|
| RingEX Phone (MCP_Phone) | Use AI-related functions; view your account info, call log, personal contacts, AI Copilot call notes, messages (SMS, fax, voicemail), and presence; send and receive SMS and MMS |
| RingCentral Chat (MCP_TeamChat) | View your account info; post messages; view, edit, and delete Team Messaging data |
Step 9 — Check that both are connected¶
Return to the Connectors tab. Both rows should now read Connected:
- RingEX-Phone: Connected
- RingCentral Chat: Connected
Part 4: Put RingCentral to work — 6 things to try¶
Open a new chat and try these. Swap in your own names.
1. Look up a colleague¶
Type this in Claude:
Or run the skill directly: `/colleague-lookup [colleague name]` (replace [colleague name] with an actual name). Claude searches your company directory and returns:
- Name and job title
- Extension and phone number
- Department
- Current status, like Available
- Source, like company directory
2. Check if someone is free¶
Type this in Claude:
Claude checks their RingCentral presence and answers in one line.
3. Send a Team Chat message¶
Type this in Claude:
- Claude finds the person in your directory.
- It shows a preview: To: [name] (Team Chat), Message: "Your webinar is going great!"
- It asks: "Confirm and I'll send it."
- Reply yes. Claude confirms: "Sent to [name]."
You stay in control
Claude always shows you the message and waits for your yes before it posts anything.
4. Catch up on voicemail¶
Type this in Claude:
Or type `/voicemail-inbox` and Claude will prompt you for what to do next.
Claude returns the latest voicemail with:
- Caller name and number
- Time and duration
- Whether the caller is in your contacts
- The full transcript
5. Follow up on a call by email¶
Type this in Claude:
Or type `/call-followup-email`. Here's what happens:
- Claude checks your recent calls and lists the best candidates.
- It asks: "Which call should I draft the follow-up email for?" Pick one.
- It drafts the email with To, Subject, and a short recap of the call.
No email connector yet? Claude hands you a draft to send yourself, or offers to post it in Team Chat.
6. Get your daily digest¶
Type this in Claude:
Or run `/daily-communications-digest` directly.
Claude builds a one-page digest of the last 24 hours:
| Section | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Top priorities | Numbered to-dos, like "Reply to voicemail" or "Call back" |
| Unreturned calls | Missed calls with a Call back or text action |
| Voicemail needing attention | Unread voicemail with the transcript and a next step |
| Other notable activity | Everything else worth a glance |
Part 5: Add Claude for Small Business¶
RingCentral covers your communications. Claude for Small Business adds ready-made workflows for cash, sales, customers, and operations.
Step 10 — Search for the plugin¶
Open Customize, select Plugins, then Discover. Enter small business in the search box.
Step 11 — Add Small Business by Anthropic¶
Find Small Business by Anthropic: "Pre-built small business workflows to help you run and grow your business." Click Add.
Step 12 — Confirm it's on¶
The plugin page opens with the toggle on. You'll see the Overview, Contents, Skills, and Connectors tabs.
The description sets the ground rule: "You approve every step that touches money or customers. Install and then ask Claude to help you get onboarded."
Part 6: Onboard in one chat¶
Step 13 — Start onboarding¶
In the chat box, type `/smb-onboard` and press send.
Claude tells you setup takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It checks what's already connected, like RingCentral Team Chat, then asks: "What are your biggest day-to-day headaches right now?"
| Pick | Covers |
|---|---|
| 1. Money | Cash flow, invoices, bills, payroll |
| 2. Customers | Following up with leads, keeping repeat business |
| 3. Scheduling | A packed calendar or too many meetings |
| 4. Getting organized | Email, files, and general chaos |
| 5. Hiring | Job posts, screening applicants |
| 6. Selling online | Orders and stock |
Step 14 — Answer the question¶
Pick one or more, or describe it in your own words. Claude uses your answer to choose the first two tools to connect. Then it runs a quick example on your real data.
Part 7: See your whole business on one page¶
Type this in Claude:
Or just ask: "How's the business doing?" Claude will run `/business-pulse` automatically. Claude pulls from every connected tool and builds a Business Pulse:
| Section | What you get |
|---|---|
| Status line | Date range and a one-line read, like "Cash steady, one collection and one soft month to watch" |
| #1 priority | The single most important action, with the contact and owner |
| Key numbers | Cash, open receivables, monthly revenue, and weighted pipeline, each vs. last month |
| Cash & Finance | Current vs. late receivables, overdue invoices, and bills to pay this week |
| Pipeline | Deal value by stage, from New Lead to Closed Won, plus deals that need a nudge |
| This Week | Dated commitments: decisions, follow-ups, closes, and scheduled work |
Part 8: Connect your CRM¶
Step 15 — Pick your CRM and click Connect¶
When Claude needs deal data, it shows a Connectors that could help card. Options include:
- HubSpot
- monday.com
- Salesforce - Beta
- Zoho CRM
Click Connect next to yours, sign in, and approve access. You can also add it anytime from Customize > Connectors.
Part 9: Log calls to deals automatically¶
This is where RingCentral and your CRM work together. Claude reads the call, finds the matching deal, and updates it.
Step 16 — Run CRM Autopilot¶
Type `/crm-autopilot`. Claude asks: "What do you want CRM Autopilot to do?"
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| 1. Standing sweep | Log everything new since last run: emails, meetings, calls |
| 2. Log one thing | Record a specific email, meeting, or call transcript against a deal |
| 3. Follow-up on quiet deals | Find stalled deals and draft next-step outreach |
| 4. Hygiene audit | Check for duplicates, stale records, missing fields |
| Something else | Describe what you need in your own words |
Claude pulls the call from RingCentral and lays out four parts:
- The call: date, time, length, and who you spoke with
- Matched record: the deal, its stage, value, owner, and next step on file
- Activity to log: a summary of what the customer said
- Proposed field updates (your call): new stage, next step, and timeline
Step 17 — Approve the update¶
Reply:
Claude reports What changed: the call is added as an activity, and the deal's next step is updated. Stage changes wait for your approval.
You approve the big moves
Claude logs the activity and next step, but leaves the deal stage as is until you say yes.
Part 10: Call new leads back first¶
Type this in Claude:
Or run `/speed-to-lead` directly.
Claude turns a new voicemail into a lead you can act on right away:
- Headline: like "New lead: kitchen remodel, ready to buy, wants a callback today"
- Lead card: name, phone, email, location, and source (for example, a voicemail left before opening)
- What they want: the project details, pulled from the message
Part 11: Turn a week of voicemails into a lead board¶
Voicemails pile up fast. One prompt reads them all, matches each caller to your CRM, and drafts every reply. You just review and send.
Step 18 — Paste this prompt¶
Copy the full prompt below into a new chat. Swap [your CRM] for the CRM you connected in Part 8.
Run `` `/speed-to-lead` `` using my RingEX phone voicemails as the inbound source.
Read my unread voicemails and their transcriptions for the last 7 days. Include missed calls with no voicemail as callback tasks. Match each caller to [your CRM] by phone number.
Sort each one as hot, qualified, unclear, or out of scope. Draft a reply in the channel the contact prefers, text or email. Put hot ones first with the owner's name and one next step.
Show a visual board with copy buttons. Do not send anything without my approval.
What Claude does¶
- Reads your unread voicemails and transcripts from the last 7 days.
- Adds missed calls with no voicemail as callback tasks.
- Matches each caller to your CRM by phone number.
- Sorts every lead: hot, qualified, unclear, or out of scope.
- Drafts a reply by text or email, based on what the contact prefers.
- Puts hot leads first, each with an owner and one next step.
- Builds a visual board. Nothing is sent.
What the board shows¶
| Section | What you get |
|---|---|
| Headline | How many leads need a person today, who owns each, and "Nothing has been sent" |
| Score tiles | Counts for Hot, Qualified, Unclear, and Out of scope, plus the oldest unanswered message |
| Filters | All leads, live RingEX leads, or sample data |
| Lead card | Tags (like Hot or Flag: timing request), a one-line summary, and the owner's next step |
| Lead details | Owner, CRM match (or new lead), proposed deal and value, and what the caller asked for |
| Transcript | The full voicemail, with its length |
| Draft reply | A ready-to-send text or email with a Copy text button |
Step 19 — Review, copy, and send¶
Read each draft. Click Copy text, then send it from your RingEX line.
Nothing goes out on its own
The board tells you "Nothing has been sent." You approve and send every reply yourself.
Quick reference: Prompts to copy¶
| You want to | Type this |
|---|---|
| Find a colleague | Who is [name]? |
| Check availability | Is [name] available now? |
| Send a Team Chat message | Message [name] and tell them ... |
| Check voicemail | /voicemail-inbox |
| Follow up on a call | /call-followup-email |
| See your day | /daily-communications-digest |
| Set up Small Business | /smb-onboard |
| See your business | /business-pulse |
| Update your CRM | /crm-autopilot |
| Catch new leads | /speed-to-lead |
| Sort a week of voicemails | The full prompt in Part 11 |
Troubleshooting: Quick fixes¶
| If you see | Do this |
|---|---|
| A connector reads Not connected | Open the plugin's Connectors tab, click Connect, and finish the Authorize step |
| "No email connector is set up" | Copy Claude's draft, or add your email under Customize > Connectors |
| The plugin doesn't show in search | Select Discover and search ringcentral or small business |
| You want to know what a skill does | Open the RingCentral skill library |
What's next¶
Start each morning with `/daily-communications-digest`. Run `/business-pulse` before your weekly planning. Let `/speed-to-lead` catch every new customer before your competitors do.
Explore every RingCentral skill at developers.ringcentral.com/mcp/skills.
Setup guide by the RingCentral Team. ~15 minute read.