diff --git a/.npmrc b/.npmrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b15c08c1bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.npmrc
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=${NPM_TOKEN}
+lockfile-version=2
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7e7cb81ade..4ea5fa489a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -37,18 +37,19 @@
 
     "comment_prepare_1": "echo scripts in this section automatically prepare releases. Intended for use by maintainers only.",
     "comment_prepare_2": "echo experimental preparation scripts only prepare experimental packages",
-    "prepare_release:experimental:patch": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:lerna && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:remove_stable && npm run _lerna:version_patch && npm run _restore:lerna",
-    "prepare_release:experimental:minor": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:lerna && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:remove_stable && npm run _lerna:version_minor && npm run _restore:lerna",
+    "prepare_release:experimental:patch": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:package-json && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:remove_stable && npm run _lerna:version_patch && npm run _restore:package-json",
+    "prepare_release:experimental:minor": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:package-json && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:remove_stable && npm run _lerna:version_minor && npm run _restore:package-json",
     "comment_prepare_3": "echo sdk preparation scripts prepare all stable and experimental packages",
-    "prepare_release:sdk:patch": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:lerna && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:version_patch && npm run _restore:lerna",
-    "prepare_release:sdk:minor": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:lerna && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:version_minor && npm run _restore:lerna",
+    "prepare_release:sdk:patch": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:package-json && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:version_patch && npm run _restore:package-json",
+    "prepare_release:sdk:minor": "npm run _check:no_changes && npm run _backup:package-json && npm run _lerna:remove_api && npm run _lerna:version_minor && npm run _restore:package-json",
+    "release:publish": "lerna publish from-package --no-push --no-private --no-git-tag-version --no-verify-access",
 
     "comment_internal": "echo scripts below this line are for internal use",
     "_check:no_changes": "if [ ! -z \"$(git status -uall --porcelain)\" ]; then echo Please ensure all changes are committed; exit 1; fi",
-    "_backup:lerna": "cp lerna.json lerna.json.backup",
-    "_restore:lerna": "mv lerna.json.backup lerna.json",
-    "_lerna:remove_api": "node -e 'var fs=require(\"fs\");var l=require(\"./lerna.json\");l.packages=l.packages.filter(p=>p!==\"api\");fs.writeFileSync(\"lerna.json\",JSON.stringify(l,null,2))'",
-    "_lerna:remove_stable": "node -e 'var fs=require(\"fs\");var l=require(\"./lerna.json\");l.packages=l.packages.filter(p=>p!==\"packages/*\");fs.writeFileSync(\"lerna.json\",JSON.stringify(l,null,2))'",
+    "_backup:package-json": "cp package.json package.json.backup",
+    "_restore:package-json": "mv package.json.backup package.json",
+    "_lerna:remove_api": "node -e 'var fs=require(\"fs\");var p=require(\"./package.json\");p.workspaces=p.workspaces.filter(p=>p!==\"api\");fs.writeFileSync(\"package.json\",JSON.stringify(p,null,2))'",
+    "_lerna:remove_stable": "node -e 'var fs=require(\"fs\");var p=require(\"./package.json\");p.workspaces=p.workspaces.filter(p=>p!==\"packages/*\");fs.writeFileSync(\"package.json\",JSON.stringify(p,null,2))'",
     "_lerna:version_patch": "npx lerna version patch --exact --no-git-tag-version --no-push --yes",
     "_lerna:version_minor": "npx lerna version minor --exact --no-git-tag-version --no-push --yes"
   },