diff --git a/.ci/release.sh b/.ci/release.sh
index c6f0666b..d2cf9669 100755
--- a/.ci/release.sh
+++ b/.ci/release.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 ##  This script runs the release given the different environment variables
-##    branch_specifier
-##    dry_run
+##    ref      : git reference (commit,branch, tag, ...)
+##    dry_run  : dry-run when set to 'true'
 ##
 ##  It relies on the .buildkite/hooks/pre-command so the Vault and other tooling
 ##  are prepared automatically by buildkite.
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ clean_up () {
 trap clean_up EXIT
 
 # Avoid detached HEAD since the release plugin requires to be on a branch
-git checkout -f "${branch_specifier}"
+git checkout -f "${ref}"
 
 echo "--- Debug JDK installation :coffee:"
 echo $JAVA_HOME
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ java -version
 
 set +x
 echo "--- Release the binaries to Maven Central :maven:"
-if [[ "$dry_run" == "true" ]] ; then
-  echo './mvnw -V release:prepare release:perform --settings .ci/settings.xml --batch-mode'
+if [[ "${dry_run}" == "true" ]] ; then
+  ./mvnw -V -s .ci/settings.xml -Pgpg clean package --batch-mode | tee release.txt
 else
-  # providing settings in arguments to make sure they are propagated to the forked maven release process
-  ./mvnw -V release:prepare release:perform --settings .ci/settings.xml -Darguments="--settings .ci/settings.xml" --batch-mode | tee release.txt
+  ./mvnw -V -s .ci/settings.xml -Pgpg clean deploy --batch-mode | tee release.txt
 fi
diff --git a/.ci/snapshot.sh b/.ci/snapshot.sh
index cbd27587..98996c9c 100755
--- a/.ci/snapshot.sh
+++ b/.ci/snapshot.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 ##  This script runs the snapshot given the different environment variables
-##    dry_run
+##    dry_run  : dry-run when set to 'true'
 ##
 ##  It relies on the .buildkite/hooks/pre-command so the Vault and other tooling
 ##  are prepared automatically by buildkite.
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ java -version
 set +x
 echo "--- Deploy the snapshot :package:"
 if [[ "$dry_run" == "true" ]] ; then
-  echo './mvnw -V -s .ci/settings.xml -Pgpg clean deploy --batch-mode'
+  ./mvnw -V -s .ci/settings.xml -Pgpg clean package --batch-mode | tee snapshot.txt
 else
   ./mvnw -V -s .ci/settings.xml -Pgpg clean deploy --batch-mode | tee snapshot.txt
 fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/maven-goal/action.yml b/.github/workflows/maven-goal/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a2468a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/maven-goal/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+
+name: maven-goal
+description: Install specific JDK and run a command
+
+inputs:
+  version:
+    description: 'Java version'
+    required: true
+    default: '17'
+  distribution:
+    description: 'Java distribution'
+    required: true
+    default: 'temurin'
+  command:
+    description: 'Command to execute'
+    required: true
+  shell:
+    description: 'Default shell'
+    default: 'bash'
+    required: false
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - name: Set up JDK
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+      with:
+        java-version: ${{ inputs.version }}
+        distribution: ${{ inputs.distribution }}
+        cache: 'maven'
+    - run: ${{ inputs.command }}
+      shell: ${{ inputs.shell }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-post-release.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-post-release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..39690b02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-post-release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+---
+name: Pre/Post Release
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    ref:
+      description: 'Branch or tag ref to run the workflow on'
+      required: true
+      default: 'main'
+    version:
+      description: 'The version to release (e.g. 1.2.3). This workflow will automatically perform the required version bumps'
+      required: true
+    phase:
+      description: 'Pre or post release phase'
+      type: choice
+      options:
+        - pre
+        - post
+      required: true
+
+env:
+  RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
+  BRANCH_NAME: ${{ inputs.phase }}-release-v${{ inputs.version }}
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}
+
+jobs:
+  validate-tag:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Validate tag does not exist on current commit
+        uses: ./.github/workflows/validate-tag
+        with:
+          tag: v${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}
+
+  create-pr:
+    name: "Bump versions and create PR"
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs:
+      - validate-tag
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    steps:
+      - uses: elastic/apm-pipeline-library/.github/actions/github-token@current
+        with:
+          url: ${{ secrets.VAULT_ADDR }}
+          roleId: ${{ secrets.VAULT_ROLE_ID }}
+          secretId: ${{ secrets.VAULT_SECRET_ID }}
+
+      - uses: elastic/apm-pipeline-library/.github/actions/setup-git@current
+        with:
+          username: ${{ env.GIT_USER }}
+          email: ${{ env.GIT_EMAIL }}
+          token: ${{ env.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+          token: ${{ env.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Create the release tag (post phase)
+        if: inputs.phase == 'post'
+        run: |
+          git tag "v${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
+          git push origin "v${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
+
+      - name: Create a ${{ inputs.phase }} release branch
+        run: git checkout -b ${{ env.BRANCH_NAME }}
+
+      - name: Set release version (pre release)
+        if: inputs.phase == 'pre'
+        uses: ./.github/workflows/maven-goal
+        with:
+          command: ./mvnw -V versions:set -DprocessAllModules=true -DgenerateBackupPoms=false -DnewVersion=${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}
+
+      - name: Set next snapshot version (post release)
+        if: inputs.phase == 'post'
+        uses: ./.github/workflows/maven-goal
+        with:
+          command: ./mvnw -V versions:set -DprocessAllModules=true -DgenerateBackupPoms=false -nextSnapshot=true
+
+      - name: Push the ${{ inputs.phase }} release branch
+        run: |
+          git add --all
+          git commit -m "${{ inputs.phase }} release: ecs-logging-java v${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
+          git push origin ${{ env.BRANCH_NAME }}
+
+      - name: Create the ${{ inputs.phase }} release PR
+        run: gh pr create --title="${{ inputs.phase }} release v${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}" --base main --head ${{ env.BRANCH_NAME }} -b "${{ inputs.phase }} release v${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-release.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..34c83109
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+---
+name: Pre release
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      ref:
+        description: 'Branch or tag ref to run the workflow on'
+        required: true
+        default: 'main'
+      version:
+        description: 'The version to release (e.g. 1.2.3). This workflow will automatically perform the required version bumps'
+        required: true
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}
+
+jobs:
+  pre-release:
+    name: "Bump versions and create PR"
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/pre-post-release.yml
+    with:
+      ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+      version: ${{ inputs.version }}
+      phase: 'pre'
+    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index dc2e8dcb..a5849fdf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,28 +1,48 @@
 ---
-name: release
-
-permissions:
-  contents: read
+name: Release
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
-      branch_specifier:
-        description: The branch to release ex. main or 0.6.
+      ref:
+        description: 'Branch or tag ref to run the workflow on'
         required: true
         default: "main"
-        type: string
-
+      version:
+        description: 'The version to release (e.g. 1.2.3). This workflow will automatically perform the required version bumps'
+        required: true
       dry_run:
         description: If set, run a dry-run release
         default: false
         type: boolean
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 jobs:
+  validate-tag:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Validate tag does not exist on current commit
+        uses: ./.github/workflows/validate-tag
+        with:
+          tag: v${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}
+      - name: Validate tag match current version
+        run: |
+          if [ "$(mvn -q help:evaluate -Dexpression=project.version -DforceStdout)" != "${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}" ]; then
+            echo "Tag should match pom.xml project.version"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
   release:
     name: Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
+    needs:
+      - validate-tag
     steps:
       - id: buildkite
         name: Run Release
@@ -32,10 +52,10 @@ jobs:
           vaultRoleId: ${{ secrets.VAULT_ROLE_ID }}
           vaultSecretId: ${{ secrets.VAULT_SECRET_ID }}
           pipeline: ecs-logging-java-release
-          waitFor: false
+          waitFor: true
           printBuildLogs: false
           buildEnvVars: |
-            branch_specifier=${{ inputs.branch_specifier || 'main' }}
+            ref=${{ inputs.ref }}
             dry_run=${{ inputs.dry_run || 'false' }}
 
       - if: ${{ success() }}
@@ -58,3 +78,15 @@ jobs:
           message: |
             :ghost: [${{ github.repository }}] Release *${{ github.ref_name }}* didn't get triggered in Buildkite.
             Build: (<${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|here>)
+
+  post-release:
+    name: "Bump versions and create PR"
+    needs:
+      - release
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/pre-post-release.yml
+    if: inputs.dry_run == 'false'
+    with:
+      ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+      version: ${{ inputs.version }}
+      phase: 'post'
+    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 1b267508..744573ee 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@ on:
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
-env:
-  MAVEN_CONFIG: "-V -B -Dorg.slf4j.simpleLogger.log.org.apache.maven.cli.transfer.Slf4jMavenTransferListener=warn -Dhttps.protocols=TLSv1.2 -Dmaven.wagon.http.retryHandler.count=3 -Dmaven.wagon.httpconnectionManager.ttlSeconds=25"
-  JAVA_VERSION: 17
-  JAVA_DIST: adopt
-
 jobs:
 
   pre-commit:
@@ -36,12 +31,9 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-    - uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+    - uses: ./.github/workflows/maven-goal
       with:
-        java-version: ${{ env.JAVA_VERSION }}
-        distribution: ${{ env.JAVA_DIST }}
-        cache: 'maven'
-    - run: ./mvnw ${{ matrix.goal }}
+        command: ./mvnw ${{ matrix.goal }}
     - name: Store test results
       if: ${{ matrix.goal == 'test' }} && (success() || failure())
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-tag/action.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-tag/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a982355e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-tag/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+
+name: validate-tag
+description: Validate tag format
+
+inputs:
+  tag:
+    description: 'Tag to validate'
+    required: true
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - name: Validate tag does not exist on current commit
+      id: validate-tag
+      shell: 'bash'
+      run: |
+        if ! [ $(echo "${{ inputs.tag }}" | grep -P "(\d{1,2})\.(\d{1,2})\.(\d{1,2})") ]; then
+          echo "Tag should be a SemVer format"
+          exit 1
+        fi
+        if [ $(git tag -l "${{ inputs.tag }}") ]; then
+          echo "The tag ${{ inputs.tag }} already exists"
+          exit 1
+        fi
diff --git a/.mvn/maven.config b/.mvn/maven.config
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df90860a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.mvn/maven.config
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+-B
+-Dorg.slf4j.simpleLogger.log.org.apache.maven.cli.transfer.Slf4jMavenTransferListener=warn
+-Dhttps.protocols=TLSv1.2
+-Dmaven.wagon.http.retryHandler.count=3
+-Dmaven.wagon.httpconnectionManager.ttlSeconds=25
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index a0b7e8f1..5572b4fd 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -122,13 +122,9 @@
     <build>
         <plugins>
             <plugin>
-                <artifactId>maven-release-plugin</artifactId>
-                <configuration>
-                    <useReleaseProfile>false</useReleaseProfile>
-                    <releaseProfiles>gpg</releaseProfiles>
-                    <autoVersionSubmodules>true</autoVersionSubmodules>
-                    <tagNameFormat>v@{project.version}</tagNameFormat>
-                </configuration>
+                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+                <artifactId>versions-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>2.16.2</version>
             </plugin>
             <plugin>
                 <artifactId>maven-deploy-plugin</artifactId>