A new survey by Ipsos indicates that South Africa is on the cusp of an e-commerce boom, and that boom will be driven by mobile.

About 22% of South Africa’s Internet users have shopped online, with a further 48% indicating that they intend doing so. And more online shoppers are using their mobile devices to shop, according to the Ipsos report, which was commissioned by First National Bank and PayPal.

Half of South Africans already shopping online use their mobile devices to shop. Most (94%) use their phones to search for information about products, while 62% use them to compare prices. Seventy percent use their phones or tablets whether they are at the office or home.

PayPal’s regional director for Africa and Israel, Efi Dahan, says online merchants need to improve the user experience on mobile. More than half (51%) of online shoppers say their online experience via mobile is not friendly, according to the Ipsos research.

Mobile shoppers say they preferred shopping in applications rather than on the Web. Apps offer greater brand engagement and loyalty as well as providing a better user experience, they say.

Another interesting fact to emerge from the survey, which also included respondents in Nigeria and Kenya, is that 30% of online shoppers in Nigeria bought products from South African merchants.