MCP, UCP and ACP: different roles in AI commerce
30 October 2026 · Synapsea
Different layers, different questions
MCP standardizes how an assistant discovers and invokes tools. UCP describes interoperable commerce capabilities and flows, including versions and constraints. ACP targets agent-assisted commerce and checkout workflows. These are related ecosystems, not interchangeable names for the same API.
A retailer should first identify the desired customer journey: read-only catalog discovery, authenticated back-office operations, or an authorized checkout. Then select the relevant standard, permitted actions and proof of interoperability. Different assistants may support different subsets.
Fondouk's free offering focuses on discoverability and read-only access according to its published materials. Never equate protocol support with universal agent compatibility or completed payment support.