Understand what businesses do in real-time
The Data City liberates banks and FinTechs from broken SIC codes. We replace outdated classification with real-time data that shows what companies actually do, so you can onboard faster, manage risk smarter, and stay compliant with confidence.
Trusted by leading policymakers, financial institutions & organisations
Misclassified businesses are costing firms millions.
You can’t manage risk if you don’t know what a business really does.
The Data City replaces guesswork with real-time, AI-powered classification—so you can onboard faster, stay compliant, and spot risk before it becomes a problem.
What makes us different?
We’re not just fixing SIC codes, we’re replacing them. Only The Data City combines real-time data, machine learning, and expert validation to deliver business classifications that platforms can trust.
- Companies House SIC codes – 30%+ error rate, vague, inaccurate, not compliant.
- AI-assigned SIC codes – accurate, compliant.
- Real-Time Industrial Classifications – built for modern sectors, useful, compliant.
Who we work with
We partner with banks, banking platforms and FinTechs at the heart of financial infrastructure – helping them deliver smarter decision-making, sharper compliance, and better business verification services.
Compliance & customer operations
Support KYC, KYB and AML workflows with real-time company classification. Understand your business customers—instantly.
Lending & risk management
Feed accurate classification into your models. Improve underwriting, pricing, and exposure management.
Markets & product development
Identify high-growth sectors. Understand where your customers operate. Shape the right products for the right industries.
Fix misclassified businesses before they cost you
Misclassification isn’t just a risk, it’s a liability. The Data City’s Real-Time SICs (RSICs) and Real-Time Industry Classifications (RTICs) ensure you make accurate, data-driven decisions every time.
Get real-time data in your platform
Speed, accuracy, and compliance are non-negotiable in modern banking. The Data City integrates seamlessly into your systems via our API or as a bulk file, providing real-time, AI-driven company classification that enhances risk assessment, fraud detection, and compliance workflows.
How we classify companies
1 in 3 UK businesses are misclassified using SIC codes. The Data City liberates banks and FinTechs with real-time classification that shows what companies actually do—supporting faster onboarding, better compliance, and smarter risk decisions.
Real-Time SIC Codes (RSICs)
We’ve fixed SIC codes. RSICs provide a faster, more accurate solution for checking company SIC codes. Using AI, we automatically reclassify business SIC codes, eliminating manual checks to save time, reduce costs, and boost efficiency.
Real-Time Industrial Classifications (RTICs)
Our Real-Time Industry Classifications (RTICs) go beyond SIC codes, mapping companies in emerging sectors. Covering Net Zero, AgriTech, FinTech, AI, and more, RTICs offer a dynamic, up-to-date view of business activity.
Frequently asked questions
- Does The Data City offer a Free Trial?
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Yes. You can try our platform for free to explore how our classification data fits into your workflow and supports your customers. Sign up for a free trial to get started.
- What’s wrong with SIC codes?
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SIC codes (Standard Industrial Classification codes) are used to describe what businesses do. They’re embedded in risk models, compliance checks, and onboarding workflows.
But there’s a problem. They’re broken.
Last updated in 2007, SIC codes can’t keep up with the pace of modern business. They’re often vague, self-selected by companies at registration, and overused in generic categories like “Other services.” Today, over 1.4 million UK companies are misclassified. That creates risk, slows down onboarding, and leads to compliance issues.
Real-Time SIC Codes (RSICs) and Real-Time Industry Classifications (RTICs) from The Data City fix this.
RSICs provide real-time, AI-powered classification within the SIC framework—clean, accurate and automated. RTICs go further, defining modern industries like FinTech, AI, and Advanced Manufacturing. Together, they give your platform the precision SIC codes were meant to deliver.
- What are RTICs?
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RTICs (Real-Time Industrial Classifications) are dynamic, expert-led industry definitions designed to track modern and emerging sectors like AI, Net Zero, and FinTech. They help platforms understand where companies sit in the economy, beyond legacy categories.
- What are RSICs and how do they differ from traditional SIC codes?
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Real-Time SIC Codes (RSICs) use AI to update business classifications. Unlike traditional SIC codes, which can be outdated and inaccurate, RSICs ensure businesses are correctly classified based on real-time information, providing more accurate and relevant data for those using the SIC Code system.
Our AI analyses companies and assigns them the most relevant classifications from the current SIC Code system, avoiding issues with catch-all ‘other classifications’ that don’t accurately describe a companies activities.
- How does The Data City compare to other similar products on the market?
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The Data City isn’t just another data provider; we’re redefining how industries are classified and understood.
Our mission is to build the new standard industrial classification system, liberating our clients from outdated SIC codes and enabling them to discover and invest in industries addressing the world’s key challenges and opportunities.
Unlike others who rely on outdated data, limited databases, and buzzwords, we offer a real-time view of companies in the UK and beyond.
Our Real-Time Industrial Classifications (RTICs) set us apart. Developed in partnership with the UK government and leading academics, our platform features over 400 bespoke RTICs, providing unparalleled insight into emerging sectors.
With the ability to build custom classifications using our machine learning technology, our innovative approach to developing alongside our customers and partners, and our comprehensive dataset, you’ve only just scratched the surface of how we compare to ‘similar’ products on the market.
Upgrade your compliance & risk platform today
Join the banks and FinTechs defining the future of AI-powered compliance and risk assessment with best-in-class business verification services.