diff --git a/Framework/Core/CMakeLists.txt b/Framework/Core/CMakeLists.txt
index c1214a8f56beb..5ca98f4a29225 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/Framework/Core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ o2_add_library(Framework
                        src/Task.cxx
                        src/Array2D.cxx
                        src/Variant.cxx
+                       src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
                        src/WorkflowCustomizationHelpers.cxx
                        src/WorkflowHelpers.cxx
                        src/WorkflowSerializationHelpers.cxx
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h
index 484501a18991e..a51e3e03ffc5e 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h
@@ -11,15 +11,14 @@
 #ifndef FRAMEWORK_VARIANTPTREEHELPERS_H
 #define FRAMEWORK_VARIANTPTREEHELPERS_H
 
+#include "Array2D.h"
 #include "Framework/Variant.h"
 #include <boost/property_tree/ptree.hpp>
 
 namespace o2::framework
 {
-namespace
-{
 template <typename T>
-auto basicVectorToBranch(T* values, size_t size)
+boost::property_tree::ptree basicVectorToBranch(T* values, size_t size)
 {
   boost::property_tree::ptree branch;
   for (auto i = 0u; i < size; ++i) {
@@ -31,30 +30,27 @@ auto basicVectorToBranch(T* values, size_t size)
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-auto basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<T>&& values)
+boost::property_tree::ptree basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<T>&& values)
 {
   return basicVectorToBranch(values.data(), values.size());
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-auto vectorToBranch(T* values, size_t size)
+boost::property_tree::ptree vectorToBranch(T* values, size_t size)
 {
   boost::property_tree::ptree branch;
   branch.put_child("values", basicVectorToBranch(values, size));
   return branch;
 }
-} // namespace
 
 template <typename T>
-auto vectorToBranch(std::vector<T>&& values)
+boost::property_tree::ptree vectorToBranch(std::vector<T>&& values)
 {
   return vectorToBranch(values.data(), values.size());
 }
 
-namespace
-{
 template <typename T>
-auto basicArray2DToBranch(Array2D<T>&& array)
+boost::property_tree::ptree basicArray2DToBranch(Array2D<T>&& array)
 {
   boost::property_tree::ptree subtree;
   for (auto i = 0u; i < array.rows; ++i) {
@@ -68,20 +64,17 @@ auto basicArray2DToBranch(Array2D<T>&& array)
   }
   return subtree;
 }
-} // namespace
 
 template <typename T>
-auto array2DToBranch(Array2D<T>&& array)
+boost::property_tree::ptree array2DToBranch(Array2D<T>&& array)
 {
   boost::property_tree::ptree subtree;
   subtree.put_child("values", basicArray2DToBranch(std::forward<Array2D<T>>(array)));
   return subtree;
 }
 
-namespace
-{
 template <typename T>
-auto basicVectorFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
+std::vector<T> basicVectorFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
 {
   std::vector<T> result(branch.size());
   auto count = 0U;
@@ -90,18 +83,15 @@ auto basicVectorFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
   }
   return result;
 }
-} // namespace
 
 template <typename T>
-auto vectorFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
+std::vector<T> vectorFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
 {
   return basicVectorFromBranch<T>(branch.get_child("values"));
 }
 
-namespace
-{
 template <typename T>
-auto basicArray2DFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
+Array2D<T> basicArray2DFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
 {
   std::vector<T> cache;
   uint32_t nrows = branch.size();
@@ -122,10 +112,9 @@ auto basicArray2DFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& branch)
   }
   return Array2D<T>{cache, nrows, ncols};
 }
-} // namespace
 
 template <typename T>
-auto array2DFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& ptree)
+Array2D<T> array2DFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& ptree)
 {
   return basicArray2DFromBranch<T>(ptree.get_child("values"));
 }
@@ -133,7 +122,7 @@ auto array2DFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& ptree)
 std::pair<std::vector<std::string>, std::vector<std::string>> extractLabels(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
 
 template <typename T>
-auto labeledArrayFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree)
+LabeledArray<T> labeledArrayFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree)
 {
   auto [labels_rows, labels_cols] = extractLabels(tree);
   auto values = basicArray2DFromBranch<T>(tree.get_child("values"));
@@ -142,7 +131,7 @@ auto labeledArrayFromBranch(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree)
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-auto labeledArrayToBranch(LabeledArray<T>&& array)
+boost::property_tree::ptree labeledArrayToBranch(LabeledArray<T>&& array)
 {
   boost::property_tree::ptree subtree;
   subtree.put_child(labels_rows_str, basicVectorToBranch(array.getLabelsRows()));
@@ -153,4 +142,48 @@ auto labeledArrayToBranch(LabeledArray<T>&& array)
 }
 } // namespace o2::framework
 
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<float>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<int>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<double>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<std::string>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(float*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(int*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(double*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(bool*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char>*, size_t);
+
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<float>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<int>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<double>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<std::string>&& values);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(float*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(int*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(double*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(bool*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char>*, size_t);
+
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<float>&& array);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<int>&& array);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<double>&& array);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<std::string>&& array);
+
+extern template std::vector<float> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<float>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template std::vector<int> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<int>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template std::vector<std::basic_string<char>> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<std::basic_string<char>>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template std::vector<double> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<double>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+
+extern template o2::framework::LabeledArray<float> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<float>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template o2::framework::LabeledArray<int> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<int>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template o2::framework::LabeledArray<std::string> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<std::string>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template o2::framework::LabeledArray<double> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<double>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+
+extern template o2::framework::Array2D<float> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<float>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template o2::framework::Array2D<int> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<int>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template o2::framework::Array2D<std::string> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<std::string>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+extern template o2::framework::Array2D<double> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<double>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<float>&& array);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<int>&& array);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<double>&& array);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<std::string>&& array);
 #endif // FRAMEWORK_VARIANTPTREEHELPERS_H
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..2b1746aae2c66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+// Copyright 2019-2020 CERN and copyright holders of ALICE O2.
+// See https://alice-o2.web.cern.ch/copyright for details of the copyright holders.
+// All rights not expressly granted are reserved.
+//
+// This software is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public
+// License v3 (GPL Version 3), copied verbatim in the file "COPYING".
+//
+// In applying this license CERN does not waive the privileges and immunities
+// granted to it by virtue of its status as an Intergovernmental Organization
+// or submit itself to any jurisdiction.
+
+#include "Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h"
+
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<float>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<int>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<double>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<std::string>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(float*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(int*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(double*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(bool*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char>*, size_t);
+
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<float>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<int>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<double>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::vector<std::string>&& values);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(float*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(int*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(double*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(bool*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char>*, size_t);
+
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<float>&& array);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<int>&& array);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<double>&& array);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::labeledArrayToBranch(o2::framework::LabeledArray<std::string>&& array);
+
+template std::vector<float> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<float>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template std::vector<int> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<int>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template std::vector<std::basic_string<char>> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<std::basic_string<char>>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template std::vector<double> o2::framework::basicVectorFromBranch<double>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+
+template o2::framework::LabeledArray<float> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<float>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template o2::framework::LabeledArray<int> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<int>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template o2::framework::LabeledArray<std::string> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<std::string>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template o2::framework::LabeledArray<double> o2::framework::labeledArrayFromBranch<double>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+
+template o2::framework::Array2D<float> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<float>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template o2::framework::Array2D<int> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<int>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template o2::framework::Array2D<std::string> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<std::string>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+template o2::framework::Array2D<double> o2::framework::array2DFromBranch<double>(boost::property_tree::ptree const& tree);
+
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<float>&& array);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<int>&& array);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<double>&& array);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::array2DToBranch(o2::framework::Array2D<std::string>&& array);