diff --git a/.github/workflows/integration-test.yml b/.github/workflows/integration-test.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..54e57c92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/integration-test.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+name: Integration tests
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - alpha
+
+jobs:
+  unit-tests:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out the repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Use Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: "20" # Specify a Node.js version
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm install
+
+      - name: Build and Smoke Test
+        run: npm run test:smoketest
+
+      - name: Run Unit Tests
+        run: |
+          npm run test
+
+  # unit-tests-windows:
+  #   runs-on: windows-2019
+  #   steps:
+  #     - name: Check out the repo
+  #       uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+  #     - name: Use Node.js
+  #       uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+  #       with:
+  #         node-version: "20" # Specify a Node.js version
+
+  #     - name: Install dependencies
+  #       run: npm install
+
+  #     - name: Build
+  #       run: npm run build
+
+  #     - name: Run Unit Tests
+  #       run: |
+  #         npm run test
+
+  local_integration:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment:
+      name: selfhosted
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out the repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Use Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: "20" # Specify a Node.js version
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm install
+
+      # Workaround for https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/2821
+      - name: Remove mono blocking 8084 port
+        run: sudo kill -9 $(sudo lsof -t -i:8084)
+
+      - name: Set up Docker
+        run: |
+          echo ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }} | docker login --username joshua.wulf --password-stdin registry.camunda.cloud
+
+      - name: Set up Docker Compose
+        run: |
+          docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose.yaml -f docker/docker-compose-modeler.yaml up -d
+
+      - name: Run Integration Tests
+        run: |
+          npm run test:local-integration
+        env:
+          CAMUNDA_SECURE_CONNECTION: false
+          ZEEBE_ADDRESS: localhost:26500
+          ZEEBE_CLIENT_ID: zeebe
+          ZEEBE_CLIENT_SECRET: zecret
+          CAMUNDA_OAUTH_URL: http://localhost:18080/auth/realms/camunda-platform/protocol/openid-connect/token
+          CAMUNDA_TASKLIST_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8082
+          CAMUNDA_OPERATE_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8081
+          CAMUNDA_OPTIMIZE_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8083
+          CAMUNDA_MODELER_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8070/api
+
+      - name: Cleanup
+        if: always()
+        run: docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose.yaml -f docker/docker-compose-modeler.yaml down
+
+  local_multitenancy_integration:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment:
+      name: selfhosted
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out the repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Use Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: "20" # Specify a Node.js version
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm install
+
+      # Workaround for https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/2821
+      - name: Remove mono blocking 8084 port
+        run: sudo kill -9 $(sudo lsof -t -i:8084)
+
+      - name: Set up Docker
+        run: |
+          echo ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }} | docker login --username joshua.wulf --password-stdin registry.camunda.cloud
+
+      - name: Set up Docker Compose
+        run: |
+          docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose-multitenancy.yaml -f docker/docker-compose-modeler.yaml up -d
+
+      - name: Run Integration Tests
+        run: |
+          npm run test:multitenancy
+        env:
+          CAMUNDA_SECURE_CONNECTION: false
+          ZEEBE_ADDRESS: localhost:26500
+          ZEEBE_CLIENT_ID: zeebe
+          ZEEBE_CLIENT_SECRET: zecret
+          CAMUNDA_OAUTH_URL: http://localhost:18080/auth/realms/camunda-platform/protocol/openid-connect/token
+          CAMUNDA_TASKLIST_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8082
+          CAMUNDA_OPERATE_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8081
+          CAMUNDA_OPTIMIZE_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8083
+          CAMUNDA_MODELER_BASE_URL: http://localhost:8070/api
+          # Needed for Multi-Tenancy
+          CAMUNDA_TENANT_ID: <default>
+
+      - name: Cleanup
+        if: always()
+        run: docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose-multitenancy.yaml -f docker/docker-compose-modeler.yaml down
+
+  saas_integration:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment: integration
+    steps:
+      - name: Check out the repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Use Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: "20" # Specify a Node.js version
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm install
+
+      - name: Run Integration Tests
+        run: |
+          npm run test:integration
+        env:
+          ZEEBE_ADDRESS: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_ADDRESS }}
+          ZEEBE_REST_ADDRESS: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_REST_ADDRESS }}
+          ZEEBE_GRPC_ADDRESS: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_GRPC_ADDRESS }}
+          ZEEBE_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_CLIENT_ID }}
+          ZEEBE_AUTHORIZATION_SERVER_URL: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_AUTHORIZATION_SERVER_URL }}
+          ZEEBE_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_CLIENT_SECRET }}
+          ZEEBE_TOKEN_AUDIENCE: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_TOKEN_AUDIENCE }}
+          CAMUNDA_CREDENTIALS_SCOPES: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CREDENTIALS_SCOPES }}
+          CAMUNDA_OAUTH_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_OAUTH_URL }}
+          CAMUNDA_TASKLIST_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_TASKLIST_BASE_URL }}
+          CAMUNDA_OPERATE_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_OPERATE_BASE_URL }}
+          CAMUNDA_OPTIMIZE_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_OPTIMIZE_BASE_URL }}
+          CAMUNDA_MODELER_BASE_URL: https://modeler.cloud.camunda.io/api
+          CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_ID }}
+          CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_SECRET }}
+          CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_BASE_URL }}
+          CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_OAUTH_AUDIENCE: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_OAUTH_AUDIENCE}}
+
+  # saas_integration_windows:
+  # needs: saas_integration
+  # runs-on: windows-2019
+  # environment: integration
+  # steps:
+  #   - name: Check out the repo
+  #     uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+  #   - name: Use Node.js
+  #     uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+  #     with:
+  #       node-version: "20" # Specify a Node.js version
+
+  #   - name: Install dependencies
+  #     run: npm install
+
+  #   - name: Run Integration Tests
+  #     run: |
+  #       npm run test:integration
+  #     env:
+  #       ZEEBE_ADDRESS: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_ADDRESS }}
+  #       ZEEBE_REST_ADDRESS: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_REST_ADDRESS }}
+  #       ZEEBE_GRPC_ADDRESS: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_GRPC_ADDRESS }}
+  #       ZEEBE_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_CLIENT_ID }}
+  #       ZEEBE_AUTHORIZATION_SERVER_URL: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_AUTHORIZATION_SERVER_URL }}
+  #       ZEEBE_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_CLIENT_SECRET }}
+  #       ZEEBE_TOKEN_AUDIENCE: ${{ secrets.ZEEBE_TOKEN_AUDIENCE }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_CREDENTIALS_SCOPES: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CREDENTIALS_SCOPES }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_OAUTH_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_OAUTH_URL }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_TASKLIST_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_TASKLIST_BASE_URL }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_OPERATE_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_OPERATE_BASE_URL }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_OPTIMIZE_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_OPTIMIZE_BASE_URL }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_MODELER_BASE_URL: https://modeler.cloud.camunda.io/api
+  #       CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_ID: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_ID }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_SECRET: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_CLIENT_SECRET }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_BASE_URL }}
+  #       CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_OAUTH_AUDIENCE: ${{ secrets.CAMUNDA_CONSOLE_OAUTH_AUDIENCE}}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index ffd07876..b2e7fbe4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
-      - alpha
 
 jobs:
   unit-tests:
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f0fb27d9..3334a948 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ Thank you for considering contributing to @camunda8/sdk! We welcome contribution
 
 To get started with contributing, please follow these steps:
 
+It's a good idea to discuss your contribution in an issue in the repository first, to align on the approach - particularly if it is a new feature.
+
 1. Fork the repository and clone it to your local machine.
 2. Check out the `alpha` branch. This is the development branch.
 3. Install the dependencies by running `npm install`.
@@ -13,13 +15,14 @@ To get started with contributing, please follow these steps:
 5. Write tests to cover your changes and ensure existing tests pass.
 6. Run the tests using `npm test` to make sure everything is working correctly. See below for details on running integration tests.
 7. Commit your changes and push them to your forked repository. Use [Conventional Commit](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/) format for the commit message. See the note below.
-8. Submit a pull request to the main repository.
-9. When your PR is merged into the `alpha` branch, an alpha package is published to NPM.
-10. When the `alpha` branch is merged into `main`, a new package is published to NPM.
+8. Submit a pull request against `alpha`.
+9. If any changes are needed they will be requested.
+10. Your PR will be merged to `alpha` and the integration tests run in CI.
+11. When the `alpha` branch is merged into `main`, a new package is published to NPM.
 
 ## A note on commit messages
 
-The repository uses []`semantic-release`](https://github.com/semantic-release/semantic-release) to create releases. Because we track the Camunda 8 Platform minor version, we treat feature implementation during a minor release cycle as a patch release rather than a minor release.
+The repository uses [`semantic-release`](https://github.com/semantic-release/semantic-release) to create releases. Because we track the Camunda 8 Platform minor version, we treat feature implementation during a minor release cycle as a patch release rather than a minor release.
 
 Creating a commit with a `feat` commit message will cause the package version patch release number to increment. To update the minor version, a commit with the type `minor` is needed.
 
diff --git a/release.config.js b/release.config.js
index d9d830ed..64869b2c 100644
--- a/release.config.js
+++ b/release.config.js
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 // eslint-disable-next-line no-undef
 module.exports = {
-	branches: [
-		'main',
-		{
-			name: 'alpha',
-			prerelease: true,
-		},
-	],
+	branches: ['main'],
 	repositoryUrl: 'https://github.com/camunda/camunda-8-js-sdk.git',
 	plugins: [
 		[
diff --git a/src/optimize/lib/OptimizeApiClient.ts b/src/optimize/lib/OptimizeApiClient.ts
index 6d0d8e4f..c1cb01fc 100644
--- a/src/optimize/lib/OptimizeApiClient.ts
+++ b/src/optimize/lib/OptimizeApiClient.ts
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export class OptimizeApiClient {
 	}
 
 	private async getHeaders(auth = true) {
-		const token = await this.oAuthProvider.getToken('OPERATE')
+		const token = await this.oAuthProvider.getToken('OPTIMIZE')
 
 		const authHeader: { authorization: string } | Record<string, never> = auth
 			? {