Microsoft Business Solutions today announced the availability of technical readiness resources to support business partners that specialize in Microsoft� Business Solutions Retail Management System. The technical readiness resources were highlighted today at the Retail Systems 2004/VICS Collaborative Commerce conference in Chicago and included the Microsoft Retail Management System Customization Guide, the Microsoft Retail Management System Implementation Guide, hands-on labs, a Web-based curriculum and Retail Insights, a newsletter partners can subscribe to for up-to-date business group announcements, product news and more.

Access Markets International Partners Inc. (AMI-Partners), a strategy and intelligence firm focused on global small and midmarket segment enterprises, reports that approximately one out of every four small businesses and one out of every six medium-sized businesses in the world are retailers. Nearly 60 percent of these retailers rely on manual methods such as paper ledgers or calculators to run their businesses. Microsoft Retail Management System is a point-of-sale (POS) solution designed specifically for small and midsize independent retailers. The scalable solution helps control customer tracking and inventory management. It also integrates with leading financial applications and comprehensive reporting tools to provide small and midsize independent retailers with the business intelligence critical to their ability to remain competitive.