If you’ve ever watched a new operator learn on a live jobsite, you already know how stressful those first days can be. You want them to build confidence, but you also don’t want the learning curve turning into a damaged trench line, a clipped curb, or a close call. Right now, many contractors are training people under pressure: lean crews, tight schedules, and equipment that can’t sit idle. CM Labs Simulations is leaning into that reality with its newly announced Intellia Workforce Training System, which the company plans to demonstrate at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026.
What Intellia is (and what CM Labs is showing at CONEXPO)
Intellia is being positioned as more than a simulator you try once and move on from. CM Labs describes it as a full training system built around skills-based learning, repeatable practice, and measurable progress. That matters because construction training still depends heavily on who happens to be mentoring that day. Some apprentices land with patient pros who teach well. Others get thrown into the mix with someone who’s rushing to hit production. Intellia is designed to bring more structure to that process, especially for organizations that want to train consistently across crews, sites, and regions.
At CONEXPO 2026, CM Labs will be showing Intellia as a workforce training platform centered on simulation-based learning. The first major focus is a tracked excavator training curriculum, which makes sense given where the biggest risks and costs often occur. Excavators are powerful machines, and even basic tasks can go sideways quickly if an operator doesn’t have good control.
The AI sidekick and how it’s changing the speed of training
CM Labs has also introduced an AI assistant as part of its excavator training program. And the point is pretty straightforward: keep your trainees moving forward without an instructor hovering over them every five minutes.
Anyone who’s run a training session knows the problem—one instructor can only work with one person at a time. In a group training situation, that means someone’s always stuck waiting. CM Labs Ai assistant helps solve this problem by giving students live feedback when mistakes occur. It’s a faster and more productive way to train staff while still having an experienced instructor oversee the class.
While most training still happens the old-fashioned way of pairing a new hire with someone experienced, it’s not always the most efficient choice. When training takes place on heavy equipment, the cost of getting it wrong the first time can be steep, both in dollars and in potential on-site safety risks.
Simulation training can go a long way in smoothing out the toughest part of the learning process. If trainees have a chance to practice the fundamentals in a safe environment before they actually get their hands on the real thing, their first few days of field training tend to be much less rocky. They’re less likely to panic, freeze up, or make rookie mistakes that slow the crew down or create hazards. And while simulation training isn’t going to replace good old-fashioned on-the-job experience, it does mean crews can spend much less time on the basics and more time where it really counts: building the skills they need to get the job done.
Final thoughts
CM Labs isn’t out to sell you a flashy new gadget; they’re after something much more practical: the secret to quickly and smoothly training new operators without disrupting production. And that’s exactly what they’re aiming for. They’ve positioned Intellia as a structured training program that integrates simulation, skills-based learning, and performance tracking, with an AI assistant that lets trainees practice without constant one-on-one coaching.
CM Labs will be at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in the North Hall at booth #N11839, showcasing the Intellia Workforce Training System.
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