diff --git a/src/ansys/dpf/core/__init__.py b/src/ansys/dpf/core/__init__.py
index 2b745c1f07..9e0c2bc7ad 100644
--- a/src/ansys/dpf/core/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ansys/dpf/core/__init__.py
@@ -105,12 +105,14 @@
 
 
 from ansys.dpf.core.collection import CollectionFactory as _CollectionFactory
+from ansys.dpf.core.collection import Collection as _Collection
 
 
 # register classes for collection types:
-CustomTypeFieldsCollection = _CollectionFactory(CustomTypeField)
-GenericDataContainersCollection = _CollectionFactory(GenericDataContainer)
-StringFieldsCollection = _CollectionFactory(StringField)
+CustomTypeFieldsCollection:type = _CollectionFactory(CustomTypeField)
+GenericDataContainersCollection:type = _CollectionFactory(GenericDataContainer)
+StringFieldsCollection:type = _CollectionFactory(StringField)
+AnyCollection:type = _Collection
 
 # for matplotlib
 # solves "QApplication: invalid style override passed, ignoring it."
diff --git a/src/ansys/dpf/core/generic_data_container.py b/src/ansys/dpf/core/generic_data_container.py
index 63df8a4da3..105959a059 100644
--- a/src/ansys/dpf/core/generic_data_container.py
+++ b/src/ansys/dpf/core/generic_data_container.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def set_property(
             Property object.
         """
 
-        if not isinstance(prop, (int, float, str)) and server_meet_version("8.1", self._server):
+        if not isinstance(prop, (int, float, str, bytes)) and server_meet_version("8.1", self._server):
             self._api.generic_data_container_set_property_dpf_type(self, property_name, prop)
         else:
             any_dpf = Any.new_from(prop, self._server)
diff --git a/tests/test_generic_data_container.py b/tests/test_generic_data_container.py
index 3000145e58..df8c735aee 100644
--- a/tests/test_generic_data_container.py
+++ b/tests/test_generic_data_container.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from ansys.dpf import core as dpf
 from conftest import (
-    SERVERS_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO_7_0, SERVERS_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO_8_0,
+    SERVERS_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO_7_0,
+    SERVERS_VERSION_GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO_8_0,
+    raises_for_servers_version_under,
 )
 import pytest
 
@@ -122,8 +124,11 @@ def test_get_bytes_generic_data_container(server_type):
 
     entity = "hello world"
     gdc.set_property("my-string", entity)
+    gdc.set_property("my-bytes", entity.encode())
     new_entity = gdc.get_property("my-string")
     assert "hello world" == new_entity
+    new_entity = gdc.get_property("my-bytes")
+    assert "hello world" == new_entity
     new_entity = gdc.get_property("my-string", str)
     assert "hello world" == new_entity
     new_entity = gdc.get_property("my-string", dpf.types.string)
@@ -132,3 +137,14 @@ def test_get_bytes_generic_data_container(server_type):
     assert b"hello world" == new_entity
     new_entity = gdc.get_property("my-string", dpf.types.bytes)
     assert b"hello world" == new_entity
+    new_entity = gdc.get_property("my-bytes", dpf.types.bytes)
+    assert b"hello world" == new_entity
+
+
+@raises_for_servers_version_under("8.1")
+def test_set_collection_generic_data_container(server_type):
+    coll = dpf.GenericDataContainersCollection(server=server_type)
+    gdc = dpf.GenericDataContainer(server=server_type)
+    coll.labels = ["body", "time"]
+    gdc.set_property("coll", coll)
+    assert gdc.get_property("coll", dpf.GenericDataContainersCollection).labels == ["body", "time"]
\ No newline at end of file