diff --git a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
index 281f1d4..2603602 100644
--- a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ steps:
     key: "run-dbt-postgres"
     plugins:
       - docker#v3.13.0:
-          image: "python:3.8"
+          image: "python:3.10.13"
           shell: [ "/bin/bash", "-e", "-c" ]
           environment:
             - "BASH_ENV=/tmp/.bashrc"
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ steps:
     key: "run_dbt_snowflake"
     plugins:
       - docker#v3.13.0:
-          image: "python:3.8"
+          image: "python:3.10.13"
           shell: [ "/bin/bash", "-e", "-c" ]
           environment:
             - "BASH_ENV=/tmp/.bashrc"
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ steps:
     key: "run_dbt_bigquery"
     plugins:
       - docker#v3.13.0:
-          image: "python:3.8"
+          image: "python:3.10.13"
           shell: [ "/bin/bash", "-e", "-c" ]
           environment:
             - "BASH_ENV=/tmp/.bashrc"
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ steps:
     key: "run_dbt_redshift"
     plugins:
       - docker#v3.13.0:
-          image: "python:3.8"
+          image: "python:3.10.13"
           shell: [ "/bin/bash", "-e", "-c" ]
           environment:
             - "BASH_ENV=/tmp/.bashrc"
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ steps:
     key: "run_dbt_databricks"
     plugins:
       - docker#v3.13.0:
-          image: "python:3.8"
+          image: "python:3.10.13"
           shell: [ "/bin/bash", "-e", "-c" ]
           environment:
             - "BASH_ENV=/tmp/.bashrc"
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/maintainer_pull_request_template.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/maintainer_pull_request_template.md
index 99c450c..9b72163 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/maintainer_pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/maintainer_pull_request_template.md
@@ -12,13 +12,15 @@ Before marking this PR as "ready for review":
 
 ## PR Overview 
 **Package version introduced in this PR:** 
- 
+- 
+
 **This PR addresses the following Issue/Feature(s):**
 <!-- Add Issue # or internal ticket reference -->
+- 
 
 **Summary of changes:**  
 <!-- 1-2 sentences describing PR changes. -->
-
+- 
 
 ### Submission Checklist  
 - [ ] Alignment meeting with the reviewer (if needed)  
@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@ Before marking this PR as "ready for review":
   - [ ] **Validation Steps:** Check for unintentional effects (e.g., add/run consistency & integrity tests)
   - [ ] **Testing Instructions:** Confirm the change addresses the issue(s)
   - [ ] **Focus Areas:** Complex logic or queries that need extra attention  
+- [ ] Merge any relevant open PRs into this PR
 
 ### Changelog  
 <!-- Recommend drafting changelog notes, then refining via ChatGPT using:  
diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-release.yml b/.github/workflows/auto-release.yml
index 8ed5853..76d6944 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-release.yml
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@ on:
   pull_request:
     types:
       - closed
-    branches:
-      - main
+      - labeled
 
 jobs:
-  call-workflow-passing-data:
-    if: github.event.pull_request.merged
-    uses: fivetran/dbt_package_automations/.github/workflows/auto-release.yml@main
-    secrets: inherit
\ No newline at end of file
+  release:
+    if: |
+      (github.event.pull_request.merged == true && github.event.pull_request.base.ref == 'main') ||
+      github.event.label.name == 'pre-release'
+    uses: fivetran/dbt_package_automations/.github/workflows/auto-release.yml@feature/pre-release-support
+    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f74ba32..06f4e77 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,8 +1,73 @@
-
-target/
+# dbt
+**/package-lock.yml
+package-lock.yml
+.dbt/
 dbt_modules/
+dbt_packages/
 logs/
+profiles.yml
+target/
+*.log
+
+# IDE files
+.idea/
+.vscode/
+*~
+*.swp
+*.swo
+
+# Jupyter Notebook
+.ipynb_checkpoints
+
+# OS generated files
+**/.DS_Store
+.DS_Store
+.Spotlight-V100
+.Trashes
+._*
+Thumbs.db
+ehthumbs.db
+
+# Python
+*.egg
+*.egg-info/
+*.py[cod]
+*.so
+*$py.class
+.Python
+__pycache__/
+build/
+develop-eggs/
+dist/
+downloads/
+eggs/
+.env
+.installed.cfg
+lib/
+lib64/
+MANIFEST
+parts/
+sdist/
+var/
+wheels/
+
+# Secrets and credentials
+.env.*
+.secrets
+credentials.json
+service-account.json
+
+# Temporary files
+.cache/
+*.temp
+*.tmp
+
+# Virtual environments
+.conda/
+.env
+.venv
+ENV/
 env/
-package-lock.yml
-dbt_packages/
-.DS_Store
\ No newline at end of file
+env.bak/
+venv/
+venv.bak/
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c3f9707..a3af278 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # dbt_qualtrics_source v0.4.0
 
-[PR #16](https://github.com/fivetran/dbt_qualtrics_source/pull/16) includes the following updates:
+[PR #16](https://github.com/fivetran/dbt_qualtrics_source/pull/16) and [PR #17](https://github.com/fivetran/dbt_qualtrics_source/pull/17) include the following updates:
 
 ## Schema & Data Updates
 **1 new column introduced and 1 schema change**
@@ -10,8 +10,15 @@
 | `stg_qualtrics__question_response` | New column |  | `response_text` | Captures the free text response associated with the question. |
 
 ## Under the Hood
-- Introduced the generate-docs github workflow for consistent docs generation.
-- Included an updated version of the maintainer pull request template.
+- Updated conditions in `.github/workflows/auto-release.yml`.
+- Added `.github/workflows/generate-docs.yml`.
+- Added `+docs: show: False` to `integration_tests/dbt_project.yml`.
+- Migrated `flags` (e.g., `send_anonymous_usage_stats`, `use_colors`) from `sample.profiles.yml` to `integration_tests/dbt_project.yml`.
+- Updated `maintainer_pull_request_template.md` with improved checklist.
+- Refreshed README tag block:
+  - Standardized Quickstart-compatible badge set
+  - Left-aligned and positioned below the H1 title.
+- Updated `.gitignore` to exclude additional DBT, Python, and system artifacts.
 
 # dbt_qualtrics_source v0.3.0
 [PR #12](https://github.com/fivetran/dbt_qualtrics_source/pull/12) includes the following update:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 306364f..962c262 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
         href="https://github.com/fivetran/dbt_qualtrics_source/blob/main/LICENSE">
         <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache%202.0-blue.svg" /></a>
     <a alt="dbt-core">
-        <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/dbt_Core™_version->=1.3.0_<2.0.0-orange.svg" /></a>
+        <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/dbt_Core™_version->=1.3.0_,<2.0.0-orange.svg" /></a>
     <a alt="Maintained?">
         <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Maintained%3F-yes-green.svg" /></a>
     <a alt="PRs">
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ vars:
 
 ### (Optional) Step 5: Additional configurations
 <details open><summary>Expand to view configurations</summary>
-    
+
 #### Passing Through Additional Fields
 This package includes all source columns defined in the macros folder. You can add more columns using our pass-through column variables. These variables allow for the pass-through fields to be aliased (`alias`) and casted (`transform_sql`) if desired, but not required. Datatype casting is configured via a sql snippet within the `transform_sql` key. You may add the desired sql while omitting the `as field_name` at the end and your custom pass-though fields will be casted accordingly. Use the below format for declaring the respective pass-through variables:
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ models:
 #### Change the source table references
 If an individual source table has a different name than the package expects, add the table name as it appears in your destination to the respective variable. This config is available only when running the package on a single connection.
 > IMPORTANT: See this project's [`src_qualtrics.yml`](https://github.com/fivetran/dbt_qualtrics_source/blob/main/models/src_qualtrics.yml) for the default names.
-    
+
 ```yml
 # dbt_project.yml
 
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ vars:
 ### (Optional) Step 6: Orchestrate your models with Fivetran Transformations for dbt Core™
 <details><summary>Expand to view details</summary>
 <br>
-    
+
 Fivetran offers the ability for you to orchestrate your dbt project through [Fivetran Transformations for dbt Core™](https://fivetran.com/docs/transformations/dbt). Learn how to set up your project for orchestration through Fivetran in our [Transformations for dbt Core setup guides](https://fivetran.com/docs/transformations/dbt#setupguide).
 </details>
-    
+
 ## Does this package have dependencies?
 This dbt package is dependent on the following dbt packages. These dependencies are installed by default within this package. For more information on the following packages, refer to the [dbt hub](https://hub.getdbt.com/) site.
 > IMPORTANT: If you have any of these dependent packages in your own `packages.yml` file, we highly recommend that you remove them from your root `packages.yml` to avoid package version conflicts.
@@ -152,11 +152,11 @@ packages:
 
     - package: dbt-labs/dbt_utils
       version: [">=1.0.0", "<2.0.0"]
-      
+
     - package: dbt-labs/spark_utils
       version: [">=0.3.0", "<0.4.0"]
 ```
-          
+
 ## How is this package maintained and can I contribute?
 ### Package Maintenance
 The Fivetran team maintaining this package _only_ maintains the latest version of the package. We highly recommend that you stay consistent with the [latest version](https://hub.getdbt.com/fivetran/qualtrics_source/latest/) of the package and refer to the [CHANGELOG](https://github.com/fivetran/dbt_qualtrics_source/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) and release notes for more information on changes across versions.
diff --git a/integration_tests/ci/sample.profiles.yml b/integration_tests/ci/sample.profiles.yml
index c55607c..5047aa9 100644
--- a/integration_tests/ci/sample.profiles.yml
+++ b/integration_tests/ci/sample.profiles.yml
@@ -2,10 +2,6 @@
 # HEY! This file is used in the dbt package integrations tests with Buildkite.
 # You should __NEVER__ check credentials into version control. Thanks for reading :)
 
-config:
-    send_anonymous_usage_stats: False
-    use_colors: True
-
 integration_tests:
   target: redshift
   outputs:
@@ -49,6 +45,6 @@ integration_tests:
       host: "{{ env_var('CI_DATABRICKS_DBT_HOST') }}"
       http_path: "{{ env_var('CI_DATABRICKS_DBT_HTTP_PATH') }}"
       schema: qualtrics_source_integration_tests_03
-      threads: 2
+      threads: 8
       token: "{{ env_var('CI_DATABRICKS_DBT_TOKEN') }}"
       type: databricks
diff --git a/integration_tests/dbt_project.yml b/integration_tests/dbt_project.yml
index 5ff3e44..dced96d 100644
--- a/integration_tests/dbt_project.yml
+++ b/integration_tests/dbt_project.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ dispatch:
     search_order: ['spark_utils', 'dbt_utils']
 
 seeds:
+  +docs:
+    show: False
   qualtrics_source_integration_tests:
     +column_types:
       _fivetran_synced: timestamp
@@ -34,3 +36,7 @@ seeds:
     directory_contact:
       +column_types:
         phone: "{{ 'string' if target.type in ['bigquery','spark','databricks'] else 'varchar' }}"
+
+flags:
+  send_anonymous_usage_stats: False
+  use_colors: True
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/integration_tests/requirements.txt b/integration_tests/requirements.txt
index 04b5ebf..c9f6024 100644
--- a/integration_tests/requirements.txt
+++ b/integration_tests/requirements.txt
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ dbt-postgres>=1.3.0,<2.0.0
 dbt-spark>=1.3.0,<2.0.0
 dbt-spark[PyHive]>=1.3.0,<2.0.0
 dbt-databricks>=1.3.0,<2.0.0
-certifi==2025.1.31
\ No newline at end of file
+certifi==2025.1.31