宅配来自于日语，日本又称为「宅配便」。宅配在日本为货物到府配送服务（含快递）的通称，有别于一般邮递。大和运输所开创的「宅急便」为有别于传统货运与快递而独树一格的服务模式，这种服务模式在2000年正式由**及统一速达相继引入**后亦称为「宅配」或「宅配通」、「宅急便」。基于此渊源脉络，「宅配」与「快递」在**有意义上的差别，但随着传统快递业相继投入日本式的宅配服务市场，两者的差别又有日趋模糊的倾向。在电子商务的发展中，宅配扮演了「最后一哩」的角色。

Delivery is the process of transporting goods from a source location to a predefined destination. There are different delivery types. Cargo (physical goods) are primarily delivered via roads and railroads on land, shipping lanes on the sea and airline networks in the air. Certain specialized goods may be delivered via other networks, such as pipelines for liquid goods, power grids for electrical power and computer networks such as the Internet or broadcast networks for electronic information.