diff --git a/.github/actions/commit_and_push/action.yml b/.github/actions/commit_and_push/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..41c7589529
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/commit_and_push/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+name: Commit and Push Changes
+description: 'Configures git, commits changes and pushes to a new branch'
+inputs:
+    branch-name:
+        description: 'Name of the branch to create'
+        required: true
+    commit-message:
+        description: 'Commit message'
+        required: true
+    gpg_signing_key:
+        description: 'The GPG signing key to use for signing commits'
+        required: true
+runs:
+    using: composite
+    steps:
+        - uses: ./.github/actions/configure_git
+          with:
+              gpg_signing_key: ${{ inputs.gpg_signing_key }}
+
+        - name: Commit and push changes
+          shell: bash
+          run: |
+              # Create and switch to new branch
+              git switch -c "${{ inputs.branch-name }}"
+
+              # Add and commit changes if there are any
+              git add --all
+              if ! git diff --cached --quiet; then
+                git commit -m "${{ inputs.commit-message }}"
+                git push origin "${{ inputs.branch-name }}"
+              else
+                echo "No changes to commit. Skipping commit and push."
+              fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
index d382a042aa..7387e80a57 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
@@ -98,25 +98,25 @@ jobs:
                   EXCLUDE_DIRS=$(echo $EXCLUDE_DIRS | xargs)
                   echo "exclude-dirs=$EXCLUDE_DIRS" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
-    get-version:
-        name: Get Azle Version
+    create-branch-prefix:
+        name: Create Branch Prefix
         runs-on: ubuntu-latest
         outputs:
-            azle-version: ${{ steps.get-version.outputs.azle-version }}
+            branch-prefix: ${{ steps.create-prefix.outputs.branch-prefix }}
         steps:
             - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-            - id: get-version
+            - id: create-prefix
               run: |
                   VERSION=$(jq -r '.version' package.json)
-                  echo "azle-version=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+                  echo "branch-prefix=benchmark--$VERSION-" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
     run-benchmarks:
         name: ${{ matrix.benchmark_group.name }}
         needs:
             - determine-should-run-benchmarks
             - set-exclude-dirs
-            - get-version
+            - create-branch-prefix
         if: ${{ needs.determine-should-run-benchmarks.outputs.should-run-benchmarks == 'true' }}
         strategy:
             fail-fast: false
@@ -155,14 +155,14 @@ jobs:
         with:
             directories: ${{ matrix.benchmark_group.directories }}
             exclude-dirs: ${{ needs.set-exclude-dirs.outputs.exclude-dirs }}
-            azle-version: ${{ needs.get-version.outputs.azle-version }}
+            branch-prefix: ${{ needs.create-branch-prefix.outputs.branch-prefix }}
 
     finalize-benchmark:
-        needs: [run-benchmarks, get-version]
+        needs: [run-benchmarks, create-branch-prefix]
         uses: ./.github/workflows/finalize_changes.yml
         with:
-            branch-prefix: 'benchmark--${{ needs.get-version.outputs.azle-version }}-'
-            commit-message: 'Update all dependencies for benchmark ${{ needs.get-version.outputs.azle-version }}'
+            branch-prefix: ${{ needs.create-branch-prefix.outputs.branch-prefix }}
+            commit-message: 'Update all dependencies for benchmark'
         secrets:
             GPG_SIGNING_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_SIGNING_KEY }}
             GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmark_parallel.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmark_parallel.yml
index 6b68b93bdb..6a9a0b097d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmark_parallel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmark_parallel.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ on:
                 required: false
                 type: string
                 default: ''
-            azle-version:
+            branch-prefix:
                 required: true
                 type: string
 
@@ -25,11 +25,7 @@ jobs:
     prepare-benchmark:
         name: Prepare Benchmark
         runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-        env:
-            GPG_SIGNING_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_SIGNING_KEY }} # All commits must be verified
-            GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         outputs:
-            azle-version: ${{ inputs.azle-version }}
             test-infos: ${{ steps.get-test-infos.outputs.test-infos }}
         steps:
             - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -71,23 +67,33 @@ jobs:
               working-directory: ${{ matrix.test.path }}
               run: dfx start --clean --background --host 127.0.0.1:8000 --artificial-delay 0
 
+            - name: Print benchmark.md contents (before test)
+              working-directory: ${{ matrix.test.path }}
+              run: |
+                  if [ -f benchmark.md ]; then
+                    echo "Contents of benchmark.md before test:"
+                    cat benchmark.md
+                  else
+                    echo "benchmark.md does not exist before test"
+                  fi
+
             - name: Run npm test (continue on error)
               working-directory: ${{ matrix.test.path }}
               continue-on-error: true
               run: npm test
 
-            - uses: ./.github/actions/configure_git
-              with:
-                  gpg_signing_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_SIGNING_KEY }}
-
-            - name: Commit and push changes
+            - name: Print benchmark.md contents (after test)
+              working-directory: ${{ matrix.test.path }}
               run: |
-                  BRANCH_NAME="benchmark--${{ needs.prepare-benchmark.outputs.azle-version }}-$(echo '${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}' | sed 's/\//-/g')"
-                  git switch -c "$BRANCH_NAME"
-                  git add --all
-                  if ! git diff --cached --quiet; then
-                    git commit -m "Run benchmarks for ${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}"
+                  if [ -f benchmark.md ]; then
+                    echo "Contents of benchmark.md after test:"
+                    cat benchmark.md
                   else
-                    echo "No changes to commit. Skipping commit and push."
+                    echo "benchmark.md does not exist after test"
                   fi
-                  git push origin "$BRANCH_NAME"
+
+            - uses: ./.github/actions/commit_and_push
+              with:
+                  branch-name: "${{ inputs.branch-prefix }}$(echo '${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}' | sed 's/\//-/g')"
+                  commit-message: 'Run benchmarks for ${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}'
+                  gpg_signing_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_SIGNING_KEY }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release_parallel.yml b/.github/workflows/release_parallel.yml
index b4169f00f2..026570e390 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release_parallel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release_parallel.yml
@@ -111,22 +111,12 @@ jobs:
               continue-on-error: true
               run: npm test
 
-            - uses: ./.github/actions/configure_git
+            - uses: ./.github/actions/commit_and_push
               with:
+                  branch-name: "update--${{ needs.prepare-release.outputs.release-version }}-$(echo '${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}' | sed 's/\//-/g')"
+                  commit-message: 'Update dependencies for ${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}'
                   gpg_signing_key: ${{ secrets.GPG_SIGNING_KEY }}
 
-            - name: Commit and push changes
-              run: |
-                  BRANCH_NAME="update--${{ needs.prepare-release.outputs.release-version }}-$(echo '${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}' | sed 's/\//-/g')"
-                  git switch -c "$BRANCH_NAME"
-                  git add --all
-                  if ! git diff --cached --quiet; then
-                    git commit -m "Update dependencies for ${{ matrix.test.displayPath }}"
-                  else
-                    echo "No changes to commit. Skipping commit and push."
-                  fi
-                  git push origin "$BRANCH_NAME"
-
     finalize-release:
         needs: [prepare-release, update-test-files-for-release-commit]
         uses: ./.github/workflows/finalize_changes.yml