Mid-size companies almost always run multiple ERP systems after acquisitions and organic growth. With 47% of ERP consolidation attempts exceeding budget, most keep running parallel systems. MCP servers offer a different integration pattern: connect each system to the AI layer instead of connecting them to each other.
Most AI consultants fail at Claude Code because they treat it like ChatGPT with a different logo. Specialists understand MCP, context windows, and why tens of thousands of tokens disappear before you even start. Here is how to spot the difference between someone who read the docs yesterday and someone who can implement.
Building an MCP server for Claude varies dramatically in cost depending on complexity. Simple database connectors take 2-3 weeks while enterprise integrations require 8-12 weeks. The real challenge is finding experienced developers who understand this brand-new protocol and can guide implementation decisions.