Services
Tecbyte is led by David Lawrence, a Claris FileMaker development specialist with more than three decades of experience designing and mentoring the development of custom business systems.
Over this time he has operated as a Platinum FileMaker Partner, and at the same time was recognised by Claris as EMEIA Business Partner of the Year. He has also continued for more than a decade as a FileMaker developer and reseller partner, working closely with Claris and supporting organisations across many industries to design systems that genuinely fit how their businesses operate.
Alongside his client work, David has also collaborated with Claris on a number of partner-led events across Scotland and the UK, helping introduce organisations and developers to the capabilities of the Claris FileMaker platform. These grassroots sessions, hosted in Apple Stores and other venues, created opportunities for people curious about the platform to explore how custom systems could transform their operations. For many years he also chaired the local FileMaker user group, helping bring together practitioners, newcomers, and organisations interested in what the platform could enable.
David Lawrence
Tecbyte
How do you normally work with clients?
“Most of the work I do sits somewhere between development and mentoring, although neither of those words quite captures it.
Rather than disappearing and returning with a finished system, I usually work directly alongside the business owner, a key individual, or a small internal team. We design and build the system together as the real work unfolds.
Why not just deliver a finished system and move on?
Because that approach often leaves the organisation dependent on outside developers. If the knowledge stays outside the business, the system becomes something people rely on but don’t truly understand.
Working together during the development process means the people inside the organisation learn how the system works as it evolves. That builds real capability inside the business rather than dependency on the outside.
So you don’t mind it when a client eventually no longer needs your help?
No, not at all. For me, that’s the healthiest outcome.
The organisation ends up with a system that genuinely fits how it works, and the knowledge stays inside the business.
That’s not to say we never work together again. What usually happens is the relationship evolves. Instead of depending on us to run the system, we become more of an advisory and strategy layer, supporting the systems and culture the organisation has built for itself.
Do you ever work alongside other developers or partners?
Yes, quite often.
Tecbyte is very comfortable working alongside other Claris partners and consultancies when that helps move things forward. Sometimes that means mentoring a junior developer within a partner team, sometimes helping stabilise or document an existing system, and sometimes taking on clearly defined pieces of work that benefit from additional experience.
Handled well, that kind of collaboration strengthens the client relationship for everyone involved. It allows partners to extend capacity or refer work outside their current focus, knowing the work will be handled carefully and transparently.”