We explain things in plain English
No jargon. If we use a technical term, we translate it.
About Dataface
A Glasgow software team that explains things plainly
We’re Dataface, a small software team based in Glasgow. We build AI, custom software, data systems and websites for businesses in the UK and the USA, and we’ve done it since 2019.
Est. 2019 · Glasgow · Dataface Ltd, SC631408
Our story
Why we started Dataface
Before Dataface, Steven spent over a decade building systems for some of the UK’s largest financial institutions, including Standard Life, Scottish Life and Royal London: work where a missed edge case shows up in a regulator’s report.
Outside that world he kept seeing the same thing: good small businesses running on spreadsheets and tools that nearly fit.
So in 2019, Steven and Marta set up Dataface to give smaller businesses the kind of software big institutions take for granted, without the enterprise theatre. That’s still the job. Today a lot of it involves AI, built the same careful way.
How we work
We show working software every two weeks
Not slide decks or status reports: software you can click on.
We build around your process, not ours
If your way of working is sensible, we build it in. If it’s painful, we fix that bit.
We stick around after launch
Need a feature next year? We’ll build it. Something broken? We’ll fix it.
We tell you when not to build
Sometimes a £40 subscription does the job. We’ll say so before we quote.
We tell you where your data goes, in writing
Before we build anything, we draw your data’s route on one page and agree it with you.
The people
Two people you can call
You work directly with the people who build your system, not an account manager.
Steven Sharp
Co-founder and director, Dataface · GlasgowSteven spent over a decade building systems for UK financial institutions, including Standard Life, Scottish Life and Royal London, where a missed edge case shows up in a regulator’s report. He brings the same discipline to smaller businesses, without the enterprise theatre.
Marta Sharp
Co-founder and director of operations, Dataface · GlasgowMarta runs delivery, quality and client communication. She’s the reason you hear back quickly and see working software every fortnight.
What we’ve built
Some of our own products are run through sister companies. We designed and built them.
Our work
Systems we’ve built and run, written up as case studies. Client work is shown without names unless the client has said yes.
WagePerks
An HR and benefits platform on web, iPhone and Android, built and run for our sister company.
Our own use
How we use AI ourselves
We use AI in our own work, the same careful way we build it for clients.
- We write and review code with AI assistants, and a person reviews what ships.
- The illustrations on this site are AI-generated and labelled. The photos of our team are real.
- Our research crawler identifies itself and keeps to the rules on its own page.
Company facts
- Registered
- Dataface Ltd · SC631408 · Registered in Scotland
- Incorporated
- 23 May 2019
- Registered office
- 6th Floor Gordon Chambers, 90 Mitchell Street, Glasgow G1 3NQ
- Offices
- Glasgow (registered office) and Livingston
- Works with
- Businesses in the UK and the USA
Questions
Why trust a small team?
Because you work directly with the people who build your system, and you see it working every two weeks. We’ll also put you in touch with a client whose system is live, if they’ve agreed to take calls.
What happens if Dataface disappears?
You own the code. The full source code, documentation and infrastructure access are handed over at every milestone. We host on AWS in your account or ours, as you prefer. In the worst case, any competent developer can pick it up. There’s no lock-in.
Can you handle our security and compliance needs?
We build to recognised security practice: encryption in transit and at rest, least-privilege access, secrets kept out of the code, and audit trails. We work as your data processor under a written data processing agreement, and we’ll help with your DPIA. If you need one, we can arrange an independent penetration test.
How we handle data and AI is set out in How we use AI responsibly.
Do you work outside Scotland?
Yes. We work with clients across the UK and in the USA, by video call and screen share, and in person in Glasgow when that helps.
Can I see your work?
Yes. Our work shows systems we’ve built and run, without client names unless the client has said yes. On a call, we can walk you through the parts that matter to you.
Get in touch
Tell us about the job
One paragraph is enough. We’ll reply within one working day with honest thoughts on whether we can help, and what it would cost.