diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h
index e69ca05b91d98..7121c5fad0669 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/Variant.h
@@ -274,13 +274,24 @@ struct variant_helper<std::vector<std::string>> {
   // Allocates a new store and copies into it.
   static void set(void* store, std::vector<std::string> value)
   {
-    new (reinterpret_cast<std::vector<std::string>*>(store)) std::vector<std::string>{};
-    *(reinterpret_cast<std::vector<std::string>*>(store)) = value;
+    auto ptr = reinterpret_cast<std::vector<std::string>*>(store);
+    new (ptr) std::vector<std::string>{value};
   }
 
   static std::vector<std::string> const& get(const void* store) { return *(reinterpret_cast<std::vector<std::string> const*>(store)); }
 };
 
+template <>
+struct variant_helper<std::string*> {
+  static void set(void* store, std::string* values, size_t size)
+  {
+    auto ptr = reinterpret_cast<std::vector<std::string>*>(store);
+    new (ptr) std::vector<std::string>{values, values + size};
+  }
+
+  static std::string const* get(const void* store) { return (*(reinterpret_cast<std::vector<std::string> const*>(store))).data(); }
+};
+
 template <>
 struct variant_helper<const char*> {
   static const char* get(const void* store) { return *reinterpret_cast<const char* const*>(store); }
@@ -360,6 +371,16 @@ class Variant
     return variant_helper<T>::get(&mStore);
   }
 
+  template <typename T>
+  [[nodiscard]] std::string const* get() const
+    requires(std::same_as<std::string*, T>)
+  {
+    if (mType != VariantType::ArrayString) {
+      throw runtime_error_f("Variant::get: Mismatch between types %d %d.", mType, VariantType::ArrayString);
+    }
+    return variant_helper<T>::get(&mStore);
+  }
+
   template <typename T>
   void set(T value)
   {
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h
index a51e3e03ffc5e..05ab71d39b0e4 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ boost::property_tree::ptree basicVectorToBranch(std::vector<T>&& values)
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-boost::property_tree::ptree vectorToBranch(T* values, size_t size)
+boost::property_tree::ptree vectorToBranch(T const* values, size_t size)
 {
   boost::property_tree::ptree branch;
   branch.put_child("values", basicVectorToBranch(values, size));
@@ -150,17 +150,17 @@ extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(f
 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::basicVectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char> const*, 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::vectorToBranch(float const*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(int const*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(double const*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(bool const*, size_t);
+extern template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char> const*, 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);
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx
index 21eb6103aa56a..e54a973bd4413 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/Variant.cxx
@@ -89,29 +89,29 @@ Variant::Variant(const Variant& other) : mType(other.mType)
   // In case this is an array we need to duplicate it to avoid
   // double deletion.
   switch (mType) {
-    case variant_trait_v<const char*>:
+    case VariantType::String:
       mSize = other.mSize;
       variant_helper<const char*>::set(&mStore, other.get<const char*>());
       return;
-    case variant_trait_v<int*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayInt:
       mSize = other.mSize;
       variant_helper<int*>::set(&mStore, other.get<int*>(), mSize);
       return;
-    case variant_trait_v<float*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayFloat:
       mSize = other.mSize;
       variant_helper<float*>::set(&mStore, other.get<float*>(), mSize);
       return;
-    case variant_trait_v<double*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayDouble:
       mSize = other.mSize;
       variant_helper<double*>::set(&mStore, other.get<double*>(), mSize);
       return;
-    case variant_trait_v<bool*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayBool:
       mSize = other.mSize;
       variant_helper<bool*>::set(&mStore, other.get<bool*>(), mSize);
       return;
-    case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayString:
       mSize = other.mSize;
-      variant_helper<std::string*>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::string*>(), mSize);
+      variant_helper<std::vector<std::string>>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::vector<std::string>>());
       return;
     default:
       mStore = other.mStore;
@@ -124,23 +124,14 @@ Variant::Variant(Variant&& other) noexcept : mType(other.mType)
   mStore = other.mStore;
   mSize = other.mSize;
   switch (mType) {
-    case variant_trait_v<const char*>:
-      *reinterpret_cast<char**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
-      return;
-    case variant_trait_v<int*>:
-      *reinterpret_cast<int**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
-      return;
-    case variant_trait_v<float*>:
-      *reinterpret_cast<float**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
-      return;
-    case variant_trait_v<double*>:
-      *reinterpret_cast<double**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
-      return;
-    case variant_trait_v<bool*>:
-      *reinterpret_cast<bool**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
+    case VariantType::String:
+    case VariantType::ArrayInt:
+    case VariantType::ArrayFloat:
+    case VariantType::ArrayDouble:
+    case VariantType::ArrayBool:
+    case VariantType::ArrayString:
+      *reinterpret_cast<void**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       return;
-    case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
-      *reinterpret_cast<std::string**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
     default:
       return;
   }
@@ -151,16 +142,20 @@ Variant::~Variant()
   // In case we allocated an array, we
   // should delete it.
   switch (mType) {
-    case variant_trait_v<const char*>:
-    case variant_trait_v<int*>:
-    case variant_trait_v<float*>:
-    case variant_trait_v<double*>:
-    case variant_trait_v<bool*>:
-    case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
+    case VariantType::String:
+    case VariantType::ArrayInt:
+    case VariantType::ArrayFloat:
+    case VariantType::ArrayDouble:
+    case VariantType::ArrayBool: {
       if (reinterpret_cast<void**>(&mStore) != nullptr) {
         free(*reinterpret_cast<void**>(&mStore));
       }
       return;
+    }
+    case VariantType::ArrayString: {
+      // Allocated with placement new. Nothing to delete.
+      return;
+    }
     default:
       return;
   }
@@ -171,23 +166,23 @@ Variant& Variant::operator=(const Variant& other)
   mSize = other.mSize;
   mType = other.mType;
   switch (mType) {
-    case variant_trait_v<const char*>:
+    case VariantType::String:
       variant_helper<const char*>::set(&mStore, other.get<const char*>());
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<int*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayInt:
       variant_helper<int*>::set(&mStore, other.get<int*>(), mSize);
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<float*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayFloat:
       variant_helper<float*>::set(&mStore, other.get<float*>(), mSize);
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<double*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayDouble:
       variant_helper<double*>::set(&mStore, other.get<double*>(), mSize);
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<bool*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayBool:
       variant_helper<bool*>::set(&mStore, other.get<bool*>(), mSize);
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
-      variant_helper<std::string*>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::string*>(), mSize);
+    case VariantType::ArrayString:
+      variant_helper<std::vector<std::string>>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::vector<std::string>>());
       return *this;
     default:
       mStore = other.mStore;
@@ -200,29 +195,29 @@ Variant& Variant::operator=(Variant&& other) noexcept
   mSize = other.mSize;
   mType = other.mType;
   switch (mType) {
-    case variant_trait_v<const char*>:
+    case VariantType::String:
       variant_helper<const char*>::set(&mStore, other.get<const char*>());
       *reinterpret_cast<char**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<int*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayInt:
       variant_helper<int*>::set(&mStore, other.get<int*>(), mSize);
       *reinterpret_cast<int**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<float*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayFloat:
       variant_helper<float*>::set(&mStore, other.get<float*>(), mSize);
       *reinterpret_cast<float**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<double*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayDouble:
       variant_helper<double*>::set(&mStore, other.get<double*>(), mSize);
       *reinterpret_cast<double**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<bool*>:
+    case VariantType::ArrayBool:
       variant_helper<bool*>::set(&mStore, other.get<bool*>(), mSize);
       *reinterpret_cast<bool**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       return *this;
-    case variant_trait_v<std::string*>:
-      variant_helper<std::string*>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::string*>(), mSize);
-      *reinterpret_cast<std::string**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
+    case VariantType::ArrayString:
+      variant_helper<std::vector<std::string>>::set(&mStore, other.get<std::vector<std::string>>());
+      *reinterpret_cast<std::vector<std::string>**>(&(other.mStore)) = nullptr;
       return *this;
     default:
       mStore = other.mStore;
diff --git a/Framework/Core/src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx b/Framework/Core/src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
index 2b1746aae2c66..cb0aefaab39ec 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/src/VariantPropertyTreeHelpers.cxx
@@ -19,17 +19,17 @@ template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::basicVectorToBranch(float*,
 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::basicVectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char> const*, 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::vectorToBranch(float const*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(int const*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(double const*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(bool const*, size_t);
+template boost::property_tree::ptree o2::framework::vectorToBranch(std::basic_string<char> const*, 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);