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Solid friction is one of the main ingredients of energy dissipation. Consequently, many studies and strategies have been introduced to avoid its effects and attempt its consequences. Nevertheless, solid friction can be harnessed if controlled carefully to drive particle displacements. Inspired by the ratchet dynamics described on the atomic scale, we implement a driving protocol capable of inducing particle displacements by shaking the base where the granular material lies with a biharmonic signal. We explore experimentally the possibilities of this driving mechanism to transport and compact granular systems and discuss different frictional models to describe this type of system numerically.