diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index e7293b2d13..bec475635f 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -200,29 +200,25 @@ jobs:
           command: |
             cd samples/java-valueentity-shopping-cart
             echo "Running mvn with SDK version: '$SDK_VERSION'"
-            mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=$SDK_VERSION 
-            mvn verify -Pit
+            mvn -Dakkaserverless-sdk.version=$SDK_VERSION verify -Pit
       - run: 
           name: Run integration tests for Shopping Cart Event Sourced Entity sample
           command: |
             cd samples/java-eventsourced-shopping-cart
             echo "Running mvn with SDK version: '$SDK_VERSION'"
-            mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=$SDK_VERSION 
-            mvn verify -Pit
+            mvn -Dakkaserverless-sdk.version=$SDK_VERSION verify -Pit
       - run: 
           name: Run integration tests for Counter Value Entity sample
           command: |
             cd samples/valueentity-counter
             echo "Running mvn with SDK version: '$SDK_VERSION'"
-            mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=$SDK_VERSION 
-            mvn verify -Pit
+            mvn -Dakkaserverless-sdk.version=$SDK_VERSION verify -Pit
       - run:
           name: Run integration tests for Counter Replicated Entity sample
           command: |
             cd samples/replicatedentity-counter
             echo "Running mvn with SDK version: '$SDK_VERSION'"
-            mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=$SDK_VERSION 
-            mvn verify -Pit
+            mvn -Dakkaserverless-sdk.version=$SDK_VERSION verify -Pit
       - save_deps_cache
 
   publish:
diff --git a/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-event-sourced-entity/pom.xml b/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-event-sourced-entity/pom.xml
index 78063d101e..6c829ae5bc 100644
--- a/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-event-sourced-entity/pom.xml
+++ b/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-event-sourced-entity/pom.xml
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
     <artifactId>akkaserverless-maven-archetype-event-sourced-entity</artifactId>
-    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>0.7.0-beta.15</version>
     <packaging>maven-archetype</packaging>
     <parent>
         <groupId>com.akkaserverless</groupId>
         <artifactId>akkaserverless-maven-java</artifactId>
-        <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.7.0-beta.15</version>
     </parent>
 
     <name>Akka Serverless Maven Archetype (Event Sourced entity)</name>
diff --git a/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-value-entity/pom.xml b/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-value-entity/pom.xml
index 7c22087754..48d50b874e 100644
--- a/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-value-entity/pom.xml
+++ b/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-archetype-value-entity/pom.xml
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
     <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
     <artifactId>akkaserverless-maven-archetype</artifactId>
-    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>0.7.0-beta.15</version>
     <packaging>maven-archetype</packaging>
     <parent>
         <groupId>com.akkaserverless</groupId>
         <artifactId>akkaserverless-maven-java</artifactId>
-        <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+        <version>0.7.0-beta.15</version>
     </parent>
 
     <name>Akka Serverless Maven Archetype (Value entity)</name>
diff --git a/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-plugin/pom.xml b/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-plugin/pom.xml
index b290e88ac0..64d85044a1 100644
--- a/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-plugin/pom.xml
+++ b/maven-java/akkaserverless-maven-plugin/pom.xml
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
 
   <groupId>com.akkaserverless</groupId>
   <artifactId>akkaserverless-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-  <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+  <version>0.7.0-beta.15</version>
   <packaging>maven-plugin</packaging>
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.akkaserverless</groupId>
     <artifactId>akkaserverless-maven-java</artifactId>
-    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>0.7.0-beta.15</version>
   </parent>
 
   <name>Akka Serverless Maven Plugin</name>
diff --git a/maven-java/pom.xml b/maven-java/pom.xml
index 114591e4bf..67f4df35cf 100644
--- a/maven-java/pom.xml
+++ b/maven-java/pom.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
   <groupId>com.akkaserverless</groupId>
   <artifactId>akkaserverless-maven-java</artifactId>
-  <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+  <version>0.7.0-beta.15</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
 
   <url>https://www.lightbend.com/akkaserverless</url>
diff --git a/samples/java-customer-registry/pom.xml b/samples/java-customer-registry/pom.xml
index d77c2157e7..6bc4edb15b 100644
--- a/samples/java-customer-registry/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/java-customer-registry/pom.xml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     <akkasls.dockerTag>${project.version}</akkasls.dockerTag>
     <akkasls.mainClass>customer.Main</akkasls.mainClass>
     <jdk.target>11</jdk.target>
-    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>${project.version}</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
+    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>0.7.0-beta.15</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
     <akka-grpc.version>1.1.1</akka-grpc.version>
   </properties>
 
@@ -51,16 +51,6 @@
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
 
-      <plugin>
-        <!-- 
-          this plugin allow us to change the version of this projects and submodules
-          we use it in CI to align the project with the current SDK version
-        -->
-        <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-        <artifactId>versions-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.1</version>
-      </plugin>
-
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.xolstice.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>protobuf-maven-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/samples/java-eventing-shopping-cart/pom.xml b/samples/java-eventing-shopping-cart/pom.xml
index f49d06a6ae..5e95965ba9 100644
--- a/samples/java-eventing-shopping-cart/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/java-eventing-shopping-cart/pom.xml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     <akkasls.dockerTag>${project.version}</akkasls.dockerTag>
     <akkasls.mainClass>shopping.Main</akkasls.mainClass>
     <jdk.target>11</jdk.target>
-    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>${project.version}</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
+    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>0.7.0-beta.15</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
     <akka-grpc.version>1.1.1</akka-grpc.version>
   </properties>
 
@@ -51,16 +51,6 @@
           <target>${jdk.target}</target>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
-      
-      <plugin>
-        <!-- 
-          this plugin allow us to change the version of this projects and submodules
-          we use it in CI to align the project with the current SDK version
-        -->
-        <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-        <artifactId>versions-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.1</version>
-      </plugin>
 
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.xolstice.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/samples/java-eventsourced-shopping-cart/pom.xml b/samples/java-eventsourced-shopping-cart/pom.xml
index dda469516e..7d83085694 100644
--- a/samples/java-eventsourced-shopping-cart/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/java-eventsourced-shopping-cart/pom.xml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
         <jdk.target>11</jdk.target>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
 
-        <akkaserverless-sdk.version>${project.version}</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
+        <akkaserverless-sdk.version>0.7.0-beta.15</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
         <akka-grpc.version>1.1.1</akka-grpc.version>
     </properties>
 
@@ -52,16 +52,6 @@
                     <target>${jdk.target}</target>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
-      
-            <plugin>
-              <!-- 
-                this plugin allow us to change the version of this projects and submodules
-                we use it in CI to align the project with the current SDK version
-              -->
-              <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-              <artifactId>versions-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-              <version>2.8.1</version>
-            </plugin>
 
             <plugin>
                 <groupId>org.xolstice.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/samples/java-valueentity-shopping-cart/pom.xml b/samples/java-valueentity-shopping-cart/pom.xml
index 6964f667b8..c0d34b1f86 100644
--- a/samples/java-valueentity-shopping-cart/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/java-valueentity-shopping-cart/pom.xml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
       <jdk.target>11</jdk.target>
       <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
 
-      <akkaserverless-sdk.version>${project.version}</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
+      <akkaserverless-sdk.version>0.7.0-beta.15</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
       <akka-grpc.version>1.1.1</akka-grpc.version>
   </properties>
 
@@ -52,16 +52,6 @@
           <target>${jdk.target}</target>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
-      
-      <plugin>
-        <!-- 
-          this plugin allow us to change the version of this projects and submodules
-          we use it in CI to align the project with the current SDK version
-        -->
-        <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-        <artifactId>versions-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.1</version>
-      </plugin>
 
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.xolstice.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/samples/replicatedentity-counter/pom.xml b/samples/replicatedentity-counter/pom.xml
index 3948d6e275..a35ae3bb34 100644
--- a/samples/replicatedentity-counter/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/replicatedentity-counter/pom.xml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     <jdk.target>11</jdk.target>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
 
-    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>${project.version}</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
+    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>0.7.0-beta.15</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
     <akka-grpc.version>1.1.1</akka-grpc.version>
   </properties>
 
@@ -52,16 +52,6 @@
           <target>${jdk.target}</target>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
-      
-      <plugin>
-        <!-- 
-          this plugin allow us to change the version of this projects and submodules
-          we use it in CI to align the project with the current SDK version
-        -->
-        <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
-        <artifactId>versions-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-        <version>2.8.1</version>
-      </plugin>
 
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.xolstice.maven.plugins</groupId>
diff --git a/samples/valueentity-counter/pom.xml b/samples/valueentity-counter/pom.xml
index ae1ac0be88..e1b18aa942 100644
--- a/samples/valueentity-counter/pom.xml
+++ b/samples/valueentity-counter/pom.xml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     <jdk.target>11</jdk.target>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
 
-    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>${project.version}</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
+    <akkaserverless-sdk.version>0.7.0-beta.15</akkaserverless-sdk.version>
     <akka-grpc.version>1.1.1</akka-grpc.version>
   </properties>
 
diff --git a/updatePomVersions.sh b/updatePomVersions.sh
index 3b547424ce..1c997a58d4 100755
--- a/updatePomVersions.sh
+++ b/updatePomVersions.sh
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ fi
 
 for i in samples/*
 do
-  (
-    cd $i
-    mvn versions:set -DnewVersion=$SDK_VERSION
-    rm pom.xml.versionsBackup
-  )
-done
\ No newline at end of file
+  sed  -i .versionsBackup "s/<akkaserverless-sdk.version>\(.*\)<\/akkaserverless-sdk.version>/<akkaserverless-sdk.version>$SDK_VERSION<\/akkaserverless-sdk.version>/" $i/pom.xml
+  rm $i/pom.xml.versionsBackup
+done