Tools overview

Tools are deterministic capabilities an agent can call while it works. A tool can read data, create an Erstan artifact, update a task, send a message, run SuiteQL, call a connector API, or invoke a provider built-in such as web search. Tools are different from skills and connectors:

Concept	What it is	Example
Tool	One operation the runtime can call.	`er_task_create`, `er_document_read`, `ns_runCustomSuiteQL`, `web_search`.
Connector	The source and authorization behind a set of tools.	Erstan, NetSuite MCP, Slack, OpenAI, Anthropic, or an MCP server.
Skill	Reusable instructions and optional package files that guide how an agent should work.	A NetSuite close skill that tells the agent which reports, tools, and checks to use.

Where tools run

Tools are available across Erstan, but the control surface changes by context.

Surface	How tools are used
Chat	Erstan chooses eligible tools based on the message, selected connections, available models, and write approvals.
Agent Builder	Builders pin tools on AI nodes, add By Connector action steps, or use AI Plan & Execute for a bounded tool-and-answer step.
Tasks	Task-backed runs use Erstan task, project, document, file, and comment tools to keep work visible.
Connectors	Owners and admins review connector tools, connection health, and per-tool write policy from each connector’s Tools tab.

Tool sources

Erstan groups tools by source so builders can tell what owns the operation and which authorization model applies.

By Erstan

First-party tools built into Erstan for tasks, projects, documents, files, workbooks, teams, skills, agent runs, Agent Builder, and SuiteQL helpers.

By connector

Tools exposed by connected systems or providers, including NetSuite MCP, Slack, OpenAI, Anthropic, business apps, and custom MCP servers.

Read, write, notify, and attach behavior

Every tool has an operational shape. The shape is not only documentation: it informs approvals, connector policy, and how you design an agent flow.

Behavior	Meaning	Examples
Read	Fetches or analyzes data without changing source records.	Search tasks, read a document, load a file, run read-only SuiteQL.
Write	Creates, updates, appends, archives, assigns, or otherwise changes state.	Create a task, update a document, create a NetSuite record.
Notify	Sends a message or email outside the current run.	Send an Erstan email or post to Slack.
Attach	Links an artifact, file, document, URL, or reference to existing work.	Attach a task reference.

Write-capable connector tools should stay on Require approval unless your team has deliberately tested and accepted the automation risk. NetSuite writes are especially sensitive because they can change ERP records.

Tool access in Agent Builder

AI steps can be configured with different levels of tool access:

Policy	Use it when
No tools	The step should only transform or respond using existing context. Use this for final summaries, review text, and formatting-only steps.
Pinned tools	The step must use a specific, reviewed tool set. Use this for production flows, deterministic lookups, ERP work, and any write-capable path.
Auto	The step can discover low-risk tools dynamically. Use this only for exploratory or general assistance.

For production agents, pin the exact tools a step needs and describe when to use them in the step instructions.

Managing access

Owners and admins control connector availability and per-tool write policy from Connectors. Builders control which tools a specific agent step can use. End users approve write actions when a policy or agent step requires a human checkpoint. For Agent Builder guidance, see Choosing AI steps and Giving agents tools, skills & connections.

Next steps

Tools by Erstan

Review the first-party Erstan tool catalog.

Tools by connector

Review connector-backed and provider-backed tools.

Choosing AI steps

Decide when an agent should think, respond, call tools, branch, loop, or pause.

Connectors overview

Connect systems and manage tool write policy.

About tools

Tools by source

Tools overview

Where tools run

Tool sources

By Erstan

By connector

Read, write, notify, and attach behavior

Tool access in Agent Builder

Managing access

Next steps

Tools by Erstan

Tools by connector

Choosing AI steps

Connectors overview

​Where tools run

​Tool sources

By Erstan

By connector

​Read, write, notify, and attach behavior

​Tool access in Agent Builder

​Managing access

​Next steps

Tools by Erstan

Tools by connector

Choosing AI steps

Connectors overview

Where tools run

Tool sources

Read, write, notify, and attach behavior

Tool access in Agent Builder

Managing access

Next steps