diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 77bf3ea..f0ebade 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   `distant-local` implementation sending a separate `Changed` event per path
 - `ChangeDetails` now includes a `renamed` field to capture the new path name
   when known
+- `DistantApi` now handles batch requests in parallel, returning the results in
+  order. To achieve the previous sequential processing of batch requests, the
+  header value `sequence` needs to be set to true
 
 ## [0.20.0-alpha.8]
 
diff --git a/distant-core/src/api.rs b/distant-core/src/api.rs
index 41ef0f5..3a473ef 100644
--- a/distant-core/src/api.rs
+++ b/distant-core/src/api.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ pub struct DistantApiServerHandler<T, D>
 where
     T: DistantApi<LocalData = D>,
 {
-    api: T,
+    api: Arc<T>,
 }
 
 impl<T, D> DistantApiServerHandler<T, D>
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ where
     T: DistantApi<LocalData = D>,
 {
     pub fn new(api: T) -> Self {
-        Self { api }
+        Self { api: Arc::new(api) }
     }
 }
 
@@ -424,8 +424,8 @@ pub trait DistantApi {
 #[async_trait]
 impl<T, D> ServerHandler for DistantApiServerHandler<T, D>
 where
-    T: DistantApi<LocalData = D> + Send + Sync,
-    D: Send + Sync,
+    T: DistantApi<LocalData = D> + Send + Sync + 'static,
+    D: Send + Sync + 'static,
 {
     type LocalData = D;
     type Request = protocol::Msg<protocol::Request>;
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ where
                     local_data,
                 };
 
-                let data = handle_request(self, ctx, data).await;
+                let data = handle_request(Arc::clone(&self.api), ctx, data).await;
 
                 // Report outgoing errors in our debug logs
                 if let protocol::Response::Error(x) = &data {
@@ -466,7 +466,9 @@ where
 
                 protocol::Msg::Single(data)
             }
-            protocol::Msg::Batch(list) => {
+            protocol::Msg::Batch(list)
+                if matches!(request.header.get_as("sequence"), Some(Ok(true))) =>
+            {
                 let mut out = Vec::new();
 
                 for data in list {
@@ -476,13 +478,7 @@ where
                         local_data: Arc::clone(&local_data),
                     };
 
-                    // TODO: This does not run in parallel, meaning that the next item in the
-                    //       batch will not be queued until the previous item completes! This
-                    //       would be useful if we wanted to chain requests where the previous
-                    //       request feeds into the current request, but not if we just want
-                    //       to run everything together. So we should instead rewrite this
-                    //       to spawn a task per request and then await completion of all tasks
-                    let data = handle_request(self, ctx, data).await;
+                    let data = handle_request(Arc::clone(&self.api), ctx, data).await;
 
                     // Report outgoing errors in our debug logs
                     if let protocol::Response::Error(x) = &data {
@@ -494,6 +490,44 @@ where
 
                 protocol::Msg::Batch(out)
             }
+            protocol::Msg::Batch(list) => {
+                let mut tasks = Vec::new();
+
+                // If sequence specified as true, we want to process in order, otherwise we can
+                // process in any order
+
+                for data in list {
+                    let api = Arc::clone(&self.api);
+                    let ctx = DistantCtx {
+                        connection_id,
+                        reply: Box::new(DistantSingleReply::from(reply.clone_reply())),
+                        local_data: Arc::clone(&local_data),
+                    };
+
+                    let task = tokio::spawn(async move {
+                        let data = handle_request(api, ctx, data).await;
+
+                        // Report outgoing errors in our debug logs
+                        if let protocol::Response::Error(x) = &data {
+                            debug!("[Conn {}] {}", connection_id, x);
+                        }
+
+                        data
+                    });
+
+                    tasks.push(task);
+                }
+
+                let out = futures::future::join_all(tasks)
+                    .await
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|x| match x {
+                        Ok(x) => x,
+                        Err(x) => protocol::Response::Error(x.to_string().into()),
+                    })
+                    .collect();
+                protocol::Msg::Batch(out)
+            }
         };
 
         // Queue up our result to go before ANY of the other messages that might be sent.
@@ -515,7 +549,7 @@ where
 
 /// Processes an incoming request
 async fn handle_request<T, D>(
-    server: &DistantApiServerHandler<T, D>,
+    api: Arc<T>,
     ctx: DistantCtx<D>,
     request: protocol::Request,
 ) -> protocol::Response
@@ -524,44 +558,37 @@ where
     D: Send + Sync,
 {
     match request {
-        protocol::Request::Version {} => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::Version {} => api
             .version(ctx)
             .await
             .map(protocol::Response::Version)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::FileRead { path } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::FileRead { path } => api
             .read_file(ctx, path)
             .await
             .map(|data| protocol::Response::Blob { data })
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::FileReadText { path } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::FileReadText { path } => api
             .read_file_text(ctx, path)
             .await
             .map(|data| protocol::Response::Text { data })
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::FileWrite { path, data } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::FileWrite { path, data } => api
             .write_file(ctx, path, data)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::FileWriteText { path, text } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::FileWriteText { path, text } => api
             .write_file_text(ctx, path, text)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::FileAppend { path, data } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::FileAppend { path, data } => api
             .append_file(ctx, path, data)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::FileAppendText { path, text } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::FileAppendText { path, text } => api
             .append_file_text(ctx, path, text)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
@@ -572,8 +599,7 @@ where
             absolute,
             canonicalize,
             include_root,
-        } => server
-            .api
+        } => api
             .read_dir(ctx, path, depth, absolute, canonicalize, include_root)
             .await
             .map(|(entries, errors)| protocol::Response::DirEntries {
@@ -581,26 +607,22 @@ where
                 errors: errors.into_iter().map(Error::from).collect(),
             })
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::DirCreate { path, all } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::DirCreate { path, all } => api
             .create_dir(ctx, path, all)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::Remove { path, force } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::Remove { path, force } => api
             .remove(ctx, path, force)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::Copy { src, dst } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::Copy { src, dst } => api
             .copy(ctx, src, dst)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::Rename { src, dst } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::Rename { src, dst } => api
             .rename(ctx, src, dst)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
@@ -610,20 +632,17 @@ where
             recursive,
             only,
             except,
-        } => server
-            .api
+        } => api
             .watch(ctx, path, recursive, only, except)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::Unwatch { path } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::Unwatch { path } => api
             .unwatch(ctx, path)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::Exists { path } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::Exists { path } => api
             .exists(ctx, path)
             .await
             .map(|value| protocol::Response::Exists { value })
@@ -632,8 +651,7 @@ where
             path,
             canonicalize,
             resolve_file_type,
-        } => server
-            .api
+        } => api
             .metadata(ctx, path, canonicalize, resolve_file_type)
             .await
             .map(protocol::Response::Metadata)
@@ -642,20 +660,17 @@ where
             path,
             permissions,
             options,
-        } => server
-            .api
+        } => api
             .set_permissions(ctx, path, permissions, options)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::Search { query } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::Search { query } => api
             .search(ctx, query)
             .await
             .map(|id| protocol::Response::SearchStarted { id })
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::CancelSearch { id } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::CancelSearch { id } => api
             .cancel_search(ctx, id)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
@@ -665,32 +680,27 @@ where
             environment,
             current_dir,
             pty,
-        } => server
-            .api
+        } => api
             .proc_spawn(ctx, cmd.into(), environment, current_dir, pty)
             .await
             .map(|id| protocol::Response::ProcSpawned { id })
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::ProcKill { id } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::ProcKill { id } => api
             .proc_kill(ctx, id)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::ProcStdin { id, data } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::ProcStdin { id, data } => api
             .proc_stdin(ctx, id, data)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::ProcResizePty { id, size } => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::ProcResizePty { id, size } => api
             .proc_resize_pty(ctx, id, size)
             .await
             .map(|_| protocol::Response::Ok)
             .unwrap_or_else(protocol::Response::from),
-        protocol::Request::SystemInfo {} => server
-            .api
+        protocol::Request::SystemInfo {} => api
             .system_info(ctx)
             .await
             .map(protocol::Response::SystemInfo)
diff --git a/distant-net/src/common.rs b/distant-net/src/common.rs
index a0e79dc..5f793c8 100644
--- a/distant-net/src/common.rs
+++ b/distant-net/src/common.rs
@@ -20,5 +20,4 @@ pub use listener::*;
 pub use map::*;
 pub use packet::*;
 pub use port::*;
-pub use serde_json::Value;
 pub use transport::*;
diff --git a/distant-net/src/common/packet.rs b/distant-net/src/common/packet.rs
index c55fe2d..14c97be 100644
--- a/distant-net/src/common/packet.rs
+++ b/distant-net/src/common/packet.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 mod header;
 mod request;
 mod response;
+mod value;
 
 pub use header::*;
 pub use request::*;
 pub use response::*;
+pub use value::*;
 
 use std::io::Cursor;
 
diff --git a/distant-net/src/common/packet/header.rs b/distant-net/src/common/packet/header.rs
index 93425f4..6712ea6 100644
--- a/distant-net/src/common/packet/header.rs
+++ b/distant-net/src/common/packet/header.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::common::{utils, Value};
 use derive_more::IntoIterator;
+use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::io;
@@ -54,6 +55,17 @@ impl Header {
         self.0.insert(key.into(), value.into())
     }
 
+    /// Retrieves a value from the header, attempting to convert it to the specified type `T`
+    /// by cloning the value and then converting it.
+    pub fn get_as<T>(&self, key: impl AsRef<str>) -> Option<io::Result<T>>
+    where
+        T: DeserializeOwned,
+    {
+        self.0
+            .get(key.as_ref())
+            .map(|value| value.clone().cast_as())
+    }
+
     /// Serializes the header into bytes.
     pub fn to_vec(&self) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
         utils::serialize_to_vec(self)
diff --git a/distant-net/src/common/packet/value.rs b/distant-net/src/common/packet/value.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b490786
--- /dev/null
+++ b/distant-net/src/common/packet/value.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+use crate::common::utils;
+use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+use std::io;
+use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
+
+/// Generic value type for data passed through header.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(transparent)]
+pub struct Value(serde_json::Value);
+
+impl Value {
+    /// Creates a new [`Value`] by converting `value` to the underlying type.
+    pub fn new(value: impl Into<serde_json::Value>) -> Self {
+        Self(value.into())
+    }
+
+    /// Serializes the value into bytes.
+    pub fn to_vec(&self) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        utils::serialize_to_vec(self)
+    }
+
+    /// Deserializes the value from bytes.
+    pub fn from_slice(slice: &[u8]) -> io::Result<Self> {
+        utils::deserialize_from_slice(slice)
+    }
+
+    /// Attempts to convert this generic value to a specific type.
+    pub fn cast_as<T>(self) -> io::Result<T>
+    where
+        T: DeserializeOwned,
+    {
+        serde_json::from_value(self.0).map_err(|x| io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, x))
+    }
+}
+
+impl Deref for Value {
+    type Target = serde_json::Value;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl DerefMut for Value {
+    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
+        &mut self.0
+    }
+}
+
+macro_rules! impl_from {
+    ($($type:ty),+) => {
+        $(
+            impl From<$type> for Value {
+                fn from(x: $type) -> Self {
+                    Self(From::from(x))
+                }
+            }
+        )+
+    };
+}
+
+impl_from!(
+    (),
+    i8, i16, i32, i64, isize,
+    u8, u16, u32, u64, usize,
+    f32, f64,
+    bool, String, serde_json::Number,
+    serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>
+);
+
+impl<'a, T> From<&'a [T]> for Value
+where
+    T: Clone + Into<serde_json::Value>,
+{
+    fn from(x: &'a [T]) -> Self {
+        Self(From::from(x))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> From<&'a str> for Value {
+    fn from(x: &'a str) -> Self {
+        Self(From::from(x))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> From<Cow<'a, str>> for Value {
+    fn from(x: Cow<'a, str>) -> Self {
+        Self(From::from(x))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> From<Option<T>> for Value
+where
+    T: Into<serde_json::Value>,
+{
+    fn from(x: Option<T>) -> Self {
+        Self(From::from(x))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> From<Vec<T>> for Value
+where
+    T: Into<serde_json::Value>,
+{
+    fn from(x: Vec<T>) -> Self {
+        Self(From::from(x))
+    }
+}